Unexpected Oxidation of a Coordinated Phosphine Ligand. Synthesis and Molecular Structure of [Pd(μ-O2PPh2)(C6H5)(PPh3)]2

The reaction of [Pd(OAc)₂(PPh₃)]₂ with HCO₂H includes the transfer of an O atom from the carboxylic ligand to the P atom and cleavage of the P–Ph bond accompanied by transfer of the Ph group from PPh₃ ligand to the palladium atom; the structure of the complex formed, [Pd(μ-O₂PPh₂)(C₆H₅)(PPh₃)]₂, has been resolved by X-ray analysis.