SYNTHESIS AND COMPLEX CHEMISTRY OF FUNCTI ONALIZED TRIPOD LIGANDS RC(CH(2)PPH(2))(3)

Malonic ester 1 is alkylated and converted into the triols RC(CH2OH)3 (5). These are easily converted into the corresponding functionalised tripodal ligands RC(CH2PPh2)3 (7) with R = Bzl (a), n-C12H25 (b), (CH3 )2CH(CH2)2 (c). Crystals suitable for X-ray crystallography have been obtained of the ligand 7a. In addition, the tripod ligands 7a and 7c h ave been further characterized by the syntheses and X-ray analyses of the nickel complex [(7a)NiCl] (8a), the iron complex [(7c)Fe(NCCH3)3]( BF4)2 [9 . (BF4)2], and the cobalt complex [(7c)Co{O(O)CCH3}](BPh4) (1 0 . BF4).