Transition‐metal complexes with bidentate ligands spanning trans ‐positions. V . Crystal and molecular structures of complexes [RhCl(CO) (1)] and [PdCl 2 (1)]; 1 = 2,11‐bis (diphenylphosphinomethyl)benzo [ c ]phenanthrene

The structures of [RhCl(CO) ( 1 )] and [PdCl 2 ( 1 )], where 1 is the bidentate ligand (C 6 H 5 ) 2 P·CH 2 ·C 18 H 10 · CH 2 ·P(C 6 H 5 ) 2 , have been determined from threedimensional X‐ray counter data collected on single crystals of the C 6 H 5 ·CN solvates. The two compounds are isomorphous and crystallize in the triclinic system, space group P 1 , Z = 2: a = 14.580 (8), b = 13.029 (10), c = 11.909 (6) Å, α = 106.33 (5), β = 100.47 (4), γ = 95.73 (5)° for the rhodium complex; a = 14.361 (5), b = 13.044 (7), c = 11.897 (4) Å, α = 105.97 (4), β = 100.27 (3), γ = 94.76 (4)°, for the palladium complex. In both complexes the metal atom is four‐coordinate with slightly distorted square‐planar configuration. In both cases the ligand 1 spans trans positions with M‐P bond lengths in the ranges of the literature data. Also the other bond distances fall in regular ranges. Ligand 1 has almost the same conformation in both complexes and is characterized by a strong out‐of‐plane deformation of the benzophenanthrene system as a consequence of severe overcrowding.