4,6-bis(supermesitylphosphanylidenemethyl)dibenzofuran. Synthesis, X-ray structure and reactivity towards group 11 metals.

New kinetically stabilized mono- and bis-phosphaalkene ligands (2 and 3, respectively) were synthesized via the phospha-Wittig approach. Ligand 3 was characterized by X-ray diffraction. The coordinating behaviour of the bidentate ligand was investigated towards group 11 metal centers in order to test its capacity to bind two coordination sites located in a trans-fashion.