Water-soluble tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine complexes with nickel, palladium and platinum: crystal structure of

The large-scale synthesis of the water-soluble phosphine P(CH 2 OH) 3 (1) from either PH 3 or [P(CH 2 OH) 4 ]Cl is described. Treatment of [MX 2 (COD)] (M=Pt or Pd; X=Cl, Br, or I; COD=cycloocta-1,5-diene) with 1 gives the corresponding [MX 2 {P(CH 2 OH) 3 } 2 ] (2-7) complexes which are soluble in water, methanol, or dmso but insoluble in most common organic solvents