Using the 1,2-dihydro-1,2-diphosphinine ring as a template for the synthesis of new bicyclic structures and new trans-chelating bis-phosphines

The 1,2‐dihydro‐1,2‐diphosphinine decacarbonylditungsten complex 1 has been used as a synthetic equivalent of the corresponding 1,2‐dianion 2. These two 1,2‐positions can be linked by a (CH2)4 bridge to yield a [4.4.0] bicyclic structure 6 whose identity has been confirmed by X‐ray crystal structure analysis. Alternatively, two ω‐iodohexyl chains can be grafted onto these positions and the resulting diiodo derivative 9 transformed into a long‐chain bis‐phosphine 10 by reaction with lithium diphenylphosphide. This bis‐phosphine gives a chelate complex with PdCl2 whose trans‐stereochemistry was established by X‐ray crystal structure analysis. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 16:44–48, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20073