Spin-lattice (T1) relaxation studies using solid-state and solution-state :31p nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy have proven to be a reliable procedure for determining the onset of a "liquid-like" character of the supported phase in a supported aqueous phase catalyst. It has also been shown that the appearance of the liquid-like character, which can be determined by the length of T b occurs at the onset of maximum catalytic activity in a supported aqueous phase catalyst. Direct sulfonation of 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DPPE) has yielded 1,2-(bis[di-m-sodiumsulfonato]phenylphosphino)ethane (DPPETS), a new water soluble ligand that has been characterized and used in the synthesis of several new complexes with palladium, rhodium, platinum and nickel centers. T 1 relaxation times and the magnitude of the chemical shift anisotropy of several of the complexes have been determined with solid- and solution-state 31 P NMR and several complexes have been evaluated for their potential in biphasic hydrogenation and hydroformylation catalysis. / Ph. D.