The cyclometallation of bis(di-p-methylbenzylphosphino)methane

The new diphosphine (4-MeC6H4CH2)2PCH2P(4-MeC6H4CH2)2, L, was reacted with [MnMe(CO)5] to give the novel cyclometallated compound [Mn{(4-MeC6H3CH2)(4-MeC6H4CH2)PCH2P(4-MeC6H4CH2)2}(CO)3], as the mer isomer, and with the ligand in a terdentate [C,P,P] fashion.