The coordination chemistry of the bidentate P,N hybrid ligand 2-(2′-pyridyl)-4,6-diphenylphosphinine towards Rh(I) has been investigated and compared to the structurally analogous 2,2′-bipyridine derivative. Considerable differences in the molecular structures of the mononuclear [Rh(cod)L2]BF4 complexes were observed and attributed to the different steric and electronic properties of functionalized phosphinines compared to pyridines.
