1,2-Bis(phenyl­phosphor­yl)ethane

The geometric parameters of the mol­ecule of the title compound, C(14)H(16)O(2)P(2), are in the usual ranges. It is a meso compound with the two chiral P atoms having opposite configurations. The P—CH(2)—CH(2)—P chain adopts a trans conformation [torsion angle −178.59 (17)°]. The P=O bonds are almost coplanar with the adjacent phenyl ring [torsion angles = 3.8 (3) and 0.3 (3)°]. Whereas one of them is synclinal [torsion angle = −59.0 (2)°] to the central C—C bond, the other is anti­clinal [torsion angle = 56.6 (2)°] to the central C—C bond. The dihedral angle between the two phenyl rings is 5.2 (3)°. The mol­ecules are linked by weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. They crystallize in rows running along the c axis.