A rhodium complex [ClRh (CO)(L1)] featuring a wide bite angle diphosphine ligand (L1= 1, 3- bis (2-diphenylphosphinomethylphenyl) benzene) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. L1 supports a bite angle (P–M–P angle, β) of 171.4° in the trans-square planar complex. L1 was tested in Rh-catalyzed 1, 4-addition reactions of arylboronic acids (six examples) to α, β-unsaturated ketones (five examples). In mixed aqueous/ ...
