Treatment of dppe with hydrogen peroxide produces the phosphine oxides(C6H5)2P(O)CH2CH2P(C6H5)2 and (C6H5)2P(O)CH2CH2P(O)(C6H5)2.[4] Selective mono-oxidation of dppe can be achieved by benzylation followed by hydrolysis:
Many coordination complexes of dppe are known, and some are used as homogeneous catalysts. Dppe is almost invariably chelating, although there are examples of monodentate (e.g., W(CO)5(dppe)) and of bridging behavior.[5] The natural bite angle is 86°.[6]
^W. Hewertson and H. R. Watson (1962). "283. The preparation of di- and tri-tertiary phosphines". J. Chem. Soc.: 1490–1494. doi:10.1039/JR9620001490.
^Girolami, G.; Rauchfuss, T.; Angelici, R. Synthesis and Technique in Inorganic Chemistry, 3rd ed.; University Science Books: Sausalito, CA, 1999; pp. 85-92. ISBN0-935702-48-2
^Dogan, J.; Schulte, J.B.; Swiegers, G.F.; Wild, S.B. (2000). "Mechanism of Phosphorus-Carbon Bond Cleavage by Lithium in Tertiary Phosphines. An Optimized Synthesis of 1, 2-Bis (phenylphosphino) ethane". J. Org. Chem.65 (4): 951–957. doi:10.1021/jo9907336. PMID10814038.
^Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
^Cotton, F.A.; Wilkinson, G. Advanced Inorganic Chemistry: A Comprehensive Text, 4th ed.; Wiley-Interscience Publications: New York, NY, 1980; p.246. ISBN0-471-02775-8
^Birkholz (née Gensow), Mandy-Nicole; Freixa, Zoraida; van Leeuwen, Piet W. N. M. (2009). "Bite angle effects of diphosphines in C–C and C–X bond forming cross coupling reactions". Chemical Society Reviews. 38 (4): 1099–1118. doi:10.1039/B806211K. PMID19421583.