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The diphosphine complexes cis - or trans -PtCl 2 (P((CH 2 ) n ) 3 P) ( n = b/12, c/14, d/16, e/18) are demetalated by MCX nucleophiles to give the title compounds (P((CH 2 ) n ) 3 )P (3b–e, 91–71%). These “empty cages” react with PdCl 2 or PtCl 2 sources to afford trans -MCl 2 (P((CH 2 ) n ) 3 P). Low temperature 31 P NMR spectra of 3b and c show two rapidly equilibrating species (3b, 86 : 14; 3c, 97 : 3), assigned based upon computational data to in , in (major) and out , out isomers. These interconvert by homeomorphic isomerizations, akin to turning articles of clothing inside out (3b/c: Δ H ‡ 7.3/8.2 kcal mol −1 , Δ S ‡ −19.4/−11.8 eu, minor to major). At 150 °C, 3b, c, e epimerize to (60–51) : (40–49) mixtures of ( in , in / out , out ) :  in , out isomers, which are separated via the bis(borane) adducts 3b, c, e·2BH 3 . The configurational stabilities of in , out -3b, c, e preclude phosphorus inversion in the interconversion of in , in and out , out isomers. Low temperature 31 P NMR spectra of in , out -3b, c reveal degenerate in , out / out , in homeomorphic isomerizations (Δ G ‡Tc 12.1, 8.5 kcal mol −1 ). When ( in , in / out , out )-3b, c, e are crystallized, out , out isomers are obtained, despite the preference for in , in isomers in solution. The lattice structures are analyzed, and the D 3 symmetry of out , out -3c enables a particularly favorable packing motif. Similarly, ( in , in / out , out )-3c, e·2BH 3 crystallize in out , out conformations, the former with a cycloalkane solvent guest inside. 

Abstract Reactions of (O=)PH(OCH₂CH₃)₂and BrMg(CH₂)_mCH=CH₂(4.9–3.2 equiv;m=4 (a), 5 (b), 6 (c)) give the dialkylphosphine oxides (O=)PH[(CH₂)_mCH=CH₂]₂(2 a–c; 77–81 % after workup), which are treated with NaH and then α,ω‐dibromides Br(CH₂)_nBr (0.49–0.32 equiv;n=8 (a′), 10 (b′), 12 (c′), 14 (d′)) to yield the bis(trialkylphosphine oxides) [H₂C=CH(CH₂)_m]₂P(=O)(CH₂)_n(O=)P[(CH₂)_mCH=CH₂]₂(3 ab′,3 bc′,3 cd′,3 ca′; 79–84 %). Reactions of3 bc′and3 ca′with Grubbs’ first‐generation catalyst and then H₂/PtO₂afford the dibridgehead diphosphine dioxides(4 bc′,4 ca′; 14–19 %,n′=2m+2);³¹P NMR spectra show two stereoisomeric species (ca. 70:30). Crystal structures of two isomers of the latter are obtained,out,out‐4 ca′and a conformer ofin,out‐4 ca′that features crossed chains, such that the (O=)P vectors appearout,out. Whereas4 bc′resists crystallization, a byproduct derived from an alternative metathesis mode, (CH₂)₁₂P(=O)(CH₂)₁₂(O=)P(CH₂)₁₂, as well as3 ab′and3 bc′, are structurally characterized. The efficiencies of other routes to dibridgehead diphosphorus compounds are compared.