The coordination of diphenyl(phenylacetenyl)phosphine (DPAP, 1) to (X)Rh(III)TPP (X = I (2) or Me (3); TPP = tetraphenyl porphyrin) was studied in solution and in the solid state. The iodide is readily displaced by the phosphine, leading to the bis-phosphine complex [(DPAP)(2)Rh(TPP)](I) (4). The methylide on rhodium in 3 is not displaced, leading selectively to the mono-phosphine complex (DPAP)(Me)Rh(TPP) (5). The first and second association constants, as determined by isothermal titration calorimetry and UV-vis titrations, are in the range 10(4)-10(7) M(-1) (in CH(2)Cl(2)). Using LDI-TOF mass spectrometry, the mono-phosphine complexes can be detected but not the bis-phosphine complexes. The electronic spectrum of 4 is similar to those previously reported with other tertiary phosphine ligands, whereas (DPAP)(I)Rh(TPP) (6) displays a low energy B-band absorption and a high energy Q-band absorption. In contrast to earlier reports, displacement of the methylide on rhodium in 5 could not be observed at any concentration, and the electronic spectra of 4 and 5 are almost identical. Isothermal titration calorimetry experiments showed that all binding events are exothermic, and all are enthalpy driven. The largest values of DeltaG degrees are found for 6. The thermodynamic and UV-vis data reveal that the methylide and the phosphine ligand have an almost identical electronic trans-influence on the sixth ligand.