Tricyclohexylphosphine is the
tertiary phosphine with the formula P(
C6H11)
3. Commonly used as a
ligand
In coordination chemistry, a ligand is an ion or molecule with a functional group that binds to a central metal atom to form a coordination complex. The bonding with the metal generally involves formal donation of one or more of the ligand's el ...
in
organometallic chemistry
Organometallic chemistry is the study of organometallic compounds, chemical compounds containing at least one chemical bond between a carbon atom of an organic molecule and a metal, including alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metals, and so ...
, it is often abbreviated to PCy
3, where Cy stands for
cyclohexyl. It is characterized by both high basicity (p''K''
a = 9.7) and a large
ligand cone angle (170°).
[{{cite journal , last1 = Immirzi , first1 = A. , last2 = Musco , first2 = A. , title = A Method to Measure the Size of Phosphorus Ligands in Coordination Complexes , doi = 10.1016/S0020-1693(00)95635-4 , year = 1977 , journal = Inorg. Chim. Acta , volume = 25 , pages = L41–42]
Important complexes containing P(Cy)
3 ligands include the
2005 Nobel Prize-winning
Grubbs' catalyst and the
homogeneous hydrogenation
Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction between molecular hydrogen (H2) and another compound or element, usually in the presence of a catalyst such as nickel, palladium or platinum. The process is commonly employed to redox, reduce or Saturated ...
catalyst
Crabtree's catalyst.
Image:Grubbs_Catalyst_1st_Generation.svg, Grubbs' catalyst (first generation)
Image:Crabtree.png, Crabtree's catalyst
References
Tertiary phosphines
Cyclohexyl compounds