New bis-rhodium complex with a bidentate 3-phosphino-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophosphinine P-ligand

Reaction between the title bidental P-ligand (obtained from 4-chloro-5-methyl-1-phenyl-3-diphenylphosphoryl-l,2,3,6-tetrahydrophosphinine oxide by double deoxygenation using trichlorosilane or phenylsilane) and two equivalents of (Me₅C₅)RhCl₂ led to the corresponding bis-Rh^III complex whose structure was evaluated by ab initio and DFT calculations. Attempts to achieve selective complexation of either the ring or exocyclic P-function were unsuccessful.