1,2-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) is an organophosphorus compound with the formula (Ph2PCH2)2 (Ph = phenyl).

It is a common symmetrical bidentate ligand in coordination chemistry.

The preparation of dppe entails the alkylation of NaP(C6H5)2 with 1,2-dichloroethane:[1][2] The reduction of dppe by lithium give the disecondary phosphine:[3] Hydrolysis gives the bis(secondary phosphine).

Treatment of dppe with hydrogen peroxide produces the phosphine oxides (C6H5)2P(O)CH2CH2P(C6H5)2 and (C6H5)2P(O)CH2CH2P(O)(C6H5)2.

[4] Selective mono-oxidation of dppe can be achieved by benzylation followed by hydrolysis: Hydrogenation of dppe gives the ligand bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane.