The synthesis and characterisation of bis(phenylpyridylphosphino)ethane

A novel synthesis has been devised for the preparation of unsymmetrical phosphine substituted derivatives of bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane [dppe]. The title ligand has been prepared in a two step procedure from dppe. A palladium(II) complex of this new ligand has been prepared and characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction.