Transition‐Metal Complexes with Bidentate Ligands Spanning <i>trans</i>‐Positions. I. The synthesis of 2,11‐bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)benzo[<i>c</i>]‐phenanthrene, a ligand promoting the formation of square planar complexes

Abstract

Abstract The bidentate ligand 2,11‐bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)benzo[ c ]phenanthrene ( 1 ) was synthesized from 2,11‐dimethyl‐benzo[ c ]phenanthrene ( 3 ) via the corresponding bromomethyl derivative 9. 3 was obtained from the cyclization with boron trifluoride etherate of 1,1‐di‐( p ‐methylphenethyl)‐epoxyethane ( 7 ), which was prepared from 1,5‐di( p ‐tolyl)‐pentan‐3‐one ( 6 ).