New ferrocene-derived hydroxymethylphosphines: FcP(CH2OH)2 [Fc=(η5-C5H5)Fe(η5-C5H4)] and the dppf analogue 1,1′-Fc′[P(CH2OH)2]2 [Fc′=Fe(η5-C5H4)2]

Reactions of the ferrocene-phosphines FcPH2 and 1,1′-Fc′(PH2)2 with excess formaldehyde gives the new hydroxymethylphosphines FcP(CH2OH)2 1 and 1,1′-Fc′[P(CH2OH)2]2 2, respectively. Phosphine 1 is an air-stable crystalline solid, whereas 2 is isolated as an oil. Reaction of 1 with H2O2, S8 or Se gives the chalcogenide derivatives FcP(E)(CH2OH)2 (E=O, S or Se), whilst reaction of 2 with S8 gives 1,1′-Fc′[P(S)(CH2OH)2]2, which were fully characterised. Phosphine 1 was also characterised by an X-ray crystal structure determination.