1,8-BIS(DIPHENYLPHOSPHINO)NAPHTHALENE - A RIGID CHELATING, DIPHOSPHINE ANALOG OF PROTON SPONGE

The synthesis of the new diphosphine, 1,8-bis(diphenylphosphino) naphthalene (1a), and its X-ray crystal structure are reported. Protonation of 1a gives a fluxional species to which a P-P bonded structure is assigned. Despite the strain apparent in the solid state due to the proximity of the diphenylphosphino groups, it appears that 1a has a normal coordination chemistry with platinum(II) and palladium(II).