The synthesis of the two novel diphosphine compounds 1,2-bis(3-(diphenylphosphino)-4-methoxyphenyl)benzene (1; Terphos), and 1,2-bis(2-diphenylphosphino)benzene (2), both derived from a terphenyl backbone structure, are described. Straightforward synthetic routes have been employed to obtain these ligands in good yields from cheap starting materials. The coordination of ligands 1 and 2 with PtCl2(cod) has been studied by NMR spectroscopy, and the X-ray crystal structures of the resulting complexes 4 and 5 were determined. The 31P NMR spectra of the mononuclear products demonstrate solely cis coordination for both bidentate ligands, with corresponding coupling constants J Pt - P of 3810 Hz (cis-[PtCl2(1)], complex 4) and 3712 Hz (cis-[PtCl2(2)], 5). The bite angles P1−Pt−P2 were 98.74 and 105.89°, respectively, in the distorted square-planar complexes. The new diphosphines have been applied in the platinum/tin-catalyzed hydroformylation of 1-octene, and both ligands give active and selective platinum catalysts.

The effect of the maternal environment on intermale aggression was studied by means of embryo transfer of genetically selected aggressive (SAL) and nonaggressive wild house mice (LAL), and their reciprocal F1's, to standard (NMR1) females. No effect was found on the attack latency scores (ALS), i.e., aggression: all genotypes born and raised under natural conditions showed an ALS similar that of genotypes born and raised by NMR1 females. Since previous studies on wild house mice failed to demonstrate postnatal effects on aggression, and the present results indicate the absence of prenatal maternal environmental effects on aggression, the primacy of genetic over maternal variance in the development of adult intermale aggression in wild house mice is indicated.