Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of [2-(phosphinomethyl)ferrocenyl]diphenylphosphine

[2-(Phosphinomethyl)ferrocenyl]diphenylphosphine 2, is an air stable primary phosphine bearing a 1,2-disubstituted ferrocene framework, which has been prepared by reduction of the corresponding phosphonate. Confirmation of its structure has been obtained by X-ray single-crystals diffraction analysis. Despite its high stability toward oxidation, phosphine 2 still displays a normal coordinative behaviour toward [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2. The expected (p-cymene)RuCl2(phosphine) complex is formed by coordination of the primary phosphine function, while the conceivably competitive complexation of the PPh2 group was not observed.