Synthesis and Structure of a 1,1‘-Diphospha[2]ferrocenophane

A four-step sequence allows us to transform 1-phenyl-3,4-dimethylphosphole-2-carboxaldehyde (1) into the bis(phosphole) 5 with a CH₂CH₂ bridge between the two α-carbons. The cleavage of the two P−phenyl bonds of 5 by lithium, followed by the reaction of the bis(phospholide) thus formed with FeCl₂, gives the corresponding 1,1‘-diphospha[2]ferrocenophane 7, which displays a tilt angle of 20°.