Transition metal–carbon bonds. Part XLII. Complexes of nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium and iridium with the tridentate ligand 2,6-bis[(di-t-butylphosphino)methyl]phenyl

The bulky diphosphine 1,3-[(di-t-butylphosphino)methyl]benzene undergoes metallation very readily to give a new type of tridentate chelating system, 2,6-bis[(di-t-butylphosphino)methyl]phenyl (pcp). Complexes prepared are of the types [MX(pcp)](M = Ni, Pd, or Pt; X = Cl, Br, H, C⋮CPh, or CN; M = Rh, X = CO), [MHCl(pcp)](M = Rh or Ir), and [IrHCl(CO)(pcp)]. [Ni(CO)(pcp)][BPh4] was also prepared. 1H- and 31P- n.m.r. data and i.r. data are given.