Triphenyl phosphite

Triphenyl phosphite is the chemical compound with the formula P(OC6H5)3. This colourless viscous liquid is the ester of phosphorous acid and phenol. It is used as a ligand in organometallic chemistry. Nickel complexes of this ligand are homogeneous catalysts for the hydrocyanation of alkenes.

Triphenylphosphite is prepared from phosphorus trichloride and phenol in the presence of a base:
 * PCl3 +  3 HOC6H5  →   P(OC6H5)3  +  3 HCl

Trimethylphosphine is prepared from triphenylphosphite:
 * 3 CH3MgBr + P(OC6H5)3  →  P(CH3)3  +  3 MgBrOC6H5

Representative coordination complexes
Triphenylphosphite forms zero-valent complexes of the type M[P(OC6H5)3]4 for M = Ni, Pd, Pt. The colourless nickel complex (m.p. 147 °C) can be prepared from the nickel(0) complex of 1,5-cyclooctadiene:
 * Ni(COD)2 + 4 P(OC6H5)3  →  Ni[P(OC6H5)3]4  +  2 COD

It also forms a variety of Fe(O) and Fe(II) complexes such as the dihydride H2Fe[P(OC6H5)3]4.