Taniaphos and Walphos ligands: Oxidative electrochemistry and complexation. Synthesis, characterization, oxidative electrochemistry and X-ray structures of [(Taniaphos/Walphos)MCl2] (M = Pd or Pt)

The oxidative electrochemistry of chiral, bidentate ferrocenylphosphines, five Taniaphos and seven Walphos ligands, was studied in methylene chloride. In general, two waves of varying reversibility were observed. Complexes of the general type [(phosphine)MCl2] (phosphine = Taniaphos or Walphos; M = Pd or Pt) were prepared and characterized by NMR. Upon coordination, the oxidative electrochemistry of the ligands was greatly simplified. The X-ray structures of a Taniaphos platinum complex as well as a palladium and a platinum complex with a Walphos ligand were determined.