Abstract
The first diphosphanes based on a resorcinarene-derived cavitand were obtained in six steps starting from 5,11,17,23-tetrabromo-4(24),6(10),12(16),18(22)-teti-eimethyleiiedioxv- 2,8,14,20-tetrapentylresorcin[4]arene. The synthesis of these bulky ligands was based on the selective C-2 functionalisation either of two proximal resorcinolic units or of two distal ones. The ligands, both of which were characterised by Xray diffraction, readily react with [RuCl2(p-cymene)](2) to form the corresponding bimettalic complexes [RuCl2(p-cymene)](2)center dot in which the cavitand shape remains unchanged with respect to that of the free phosphanes.