Synthesis, physicochemical analysis of two new hemilabile ether-phosphine ligands and their first stable bis-ether-phosphine/cobalt(II) tetrahedral complexes

New tridentate ether-phosphine {P, 2O} and ether-phosphine oxide {OP, 2O} ligands with P and O donor-atoms have been synthesized starting from ClCH2CH(OCH3)2. The oxidation process of Ph2PCH2CH(OCH3)2 to its oxide derivative Ph2P(O)CH2CH(OCH3)2 was monitored by 31P NMR for the first time. The desired ligands and their Co(II) complexes structures were deduced from IR, EA, MS, NMR, UV-Vis., TG/DTG and XRD physical measurements. The tridentate chelating coordination behavior of the ether-phosphine wasn't detected leading only to the mono-dentate coordination mode through the phosphorous atoms to set up a X2Co[η1-Ph2PCH2CH(OCH3)2]2 as final isomer formula (X = Cl or Br). The Cl2Co[η1-Ph2PCH2CH(OCH3)2]2 isomer belongs to complex 1 was supported by single crystal measurement. Polar/non-polar intermolecular short contacts were detected by XRD and Hirshfeld surface theoretical analysis.