Methyldiphenylphosphine is the organophosphine with the formula CH<sub>3</sub>(C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>5</sub>)<sub>2</sub>P, often abbreviated PMePh<sub>2</sub>. It is a colorless, viscous liquid. It is a member of series (CH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3-n</sub>(C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>5</sub>)<sub>2</sub>P that also includes n = 0, n = 1, and n = 3 that are often employed as ligands in metal phosphine complexes.
Methyldiphenylphosphine is prepared by reaction of chlorodiphenylphosphine with methyl Grignard reagent:
Cl(C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>5</sub>)<sub>2</sub>P + CH<sub>3</sub>MgBr â CH<sub>3</sub>(C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>5</sub>)<sub>2</sub>P + MgBrCl
Selected derivatives:
- The phosphine oxide OPMePh<sub>2</sub>, prepared by treatment with hydrogen peroxide.
- The coordination complex MoH<sub>4</sub>(PMePh<sub>2</sub>)<sub>4</sub>, prepared by treatment of MoCl<sub>4</sub>(PMePh<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> with sodium borohydride in the presence of excess ligand.
- The coordination complex CoCl<sub>2</sub>(PMePh<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>, prepared by treating cobalt(II) chloride with the phosphine.
- The phosphine-borane H<sub>3</sub>BPMePh<sub>2</sub> prepared by treating the phosphine with borane.
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