Hydrolysis of chlorophosphine ligands on platinum and palladium. 31P and 195Pt nmr studies and the crystal and molecular structures of cis-[PtCl2(PPh2OH)2]•C4H8O and [Pd2(µ-Cl)2{(P(OEt)2O)2H}2]
Controlled hydrolysis of cis-[PtCl2(PPh2Cl)2] gives cis-[PtCl2(PPh2OH)2] which crystallizes as a tetrahydrofuran solvate in the monoclinic space group P21/n, with a = 14.647(3), b = 15.089(3), c = 13.107(2) Å, β = 91.22(3)°. This is the first example of a complex containing a cis-M(PR2OH)2 group to be structurally characterized since further reaction to [Formula: see text] ligand systems is the more usual outcome of such hydrolyses. An example of the latter type, [Pd2(μ-Cl)2-{(P(OEt)2O)2H}2], crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c, a = 9.674(2), b = 20.722(5), c = 8.578(2) Å, β = 92.75(3)°. Complete X-ray diffraction studies are reported for both crystals. Synthesis and 31P{1H} and 195Pt{1H} nmr studies are reported for the complexes [PtCl2(PEt3)(PR2Cl)], R = OEt, Ph, Cy, Et, or Bu′, which have cis stereochemistry except when R = Bu′, and for cis-[PtCl2(PR2Cl)2], R = OEt, Ph, or Et, and also for the hydrolysis products, cis-[PtCl2(PEt3)(PR2OH)], R = OEt or Ph, and cis-[PtCl2(PR2OH)2], R = OEt, Ph, or Et. Analogous products for palladium are generally less stable and more difficult to characterize. The complex of products from hydrolysis of palladium/P(OEt)2Cl compounds is discussed in detail.