2,2′-Bis((di-tert-butylphosphino)methyl)-1,1′-biphenyl (ditbi): a bulky analogue of bisbi. The crystal structure of [Rh2Cl2(1,5-cod)2(μ-ditbi)]

Diphosphine 2,2′-bis(di-tert -butylphosphino)methyl)-1,1′-biphenyl (ditbi) is synthesised by the addition of View the MathML sourceBu2tP(BH3)Li to 2,2′-bis(bromomethyl)-1,1′-biphenyl, followed by deprotection with diethylamine. Treatment of [Rh2Cl2(1,5-cod)2], with ditbi gives [Rh2Cl2(1,5-cod)2(μ-ditbi)] (2) as confirmed by its X-ray crystal structure determination. Hydroformylation of 1-hexene using [Rh(acac)(CO)2]/ditbi as catalyst gave n- and iso-heptanal in a ratio of 1:1.