title: 1,2-Bis(phenyl-phosphor-yl)ethane.
abstract: The geometric parameters of the mol-ecule of the title compound, C(14)H(16)O(2)P(2), are in the usual ranges. It is a meso compound with the two chiral P atoms having opposite configurations. The P-CH(2)-CH(2)-P chain adopts a trans conformation [torsion angle -178.59 (17)°]. The P=O bonds are almost coplanar with the adjacent phenyl ring [torsion angles = 3.8 (3) and 0.3 (3)°]. Whereas one of them is synclinal [torsion angle = -59.0 (2)°] to the central C-C bond, the other is anti-clinal [torsion angle = 56.6 (2)°] to the central C-C bond. The dihedral angle between the two phenyl rings is 5.2 (3)°. The mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. They crystallize in rows running along the c axis.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Anorganische Chemie, J. W. Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dornhaus
authors.forename: Hans-Wolfram
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bolte