Preparation, properties, and catalytic activity of transition-metal complexes containing a ligated 2-methyl-3,3-diphenyl-1,3-diphosphapropene skeleton

2-Methyl-3,3-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl)-1,3-diphosphapropene behaved as an unsymmetrical chelating ligand for transition metal complexes and the 1,3-diphosphapropene moiety was hydrolyzed to afford the 1,3-diphosphapropan-1-ol derivative upon coordination. The palladium complex showed catalytic activity for the Sonogashira coupling reaction.