Synthesis of diphenyl-(2-thienyl)phosphine, its chalcogenide derivatives and a series of novel complexes of lanthanide nitrates and triflates.

A novel synthesis of diphenyl(2-thienyl)phosphine, along with its' oxide, sulfide and selenide derivatives, is reported here. These phosphines have been characterized by NMR, IR, MS and X-Ray crystallography. The phosphine oxide derivative was reacted with a selection of lanthanide(III) nitrates and triflates, LnX, to give the resultant metal-ligand complexes.