Arrays of P=O dipoles as a recurrent structural motif in bis-diphenylphosphine oxides, established from powder x-ray diffraction

Rationalization of the solid-state structural properties of odd members (n = 3, 5, 7) of the series Ph₂P(O)(CH₂)_nP(O) Ph₂ leads to insights concerning the structural determinants of this class of material, particularly with regard to the formation of preferred arrangements of P=O dipoles. The odd members of this series are recalcitrant to the formation of single crystals of suitable size and quality for single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and modern techniques for carrying out crystal structure determination directly from powder X-ray diffraction data were essential for determining the structural properties of these materials. In the present work, nonsolvate crystal phases of the materials with n = 3 and 5 were prepared by appropriate solid-state desolvation processes (starting from hydrate and toluene solvate phases, respectively), yielding microcrystalline powders of the nonsolvate phase in each case. Structure determination was carried out directly from powder X-ray diffraction data, employing the direct-space genetic algorithm technique for structure solution followed by Rietveld refinement.