title: Thioether coordination to divalent selenium halide acceptors--synthesis, properties and structures.
abstract: The tetravalent SeCl(4) and SeBr(4) are reduced in the presence of thioether ligands L (SMe(2), tht) or L-L (MeS(CH(2))(n)SMe (n = 2 or 3), o-C(6)H(4)(SMe)(2)) in MeCN solution at 0 °C, forming Se(II) thioether complexes, including the crystallographically characterised halo-bridged chain polymers [SeX(2)(SMe(2))] (X = Cl or Br), molecular trans-[SeX(2)(tht)(2)], cis-[SeBr(2){MeS(CH(2))(2)SMe}] and the thioether-bridged polymer [SeBr(2){MeS(CH(2))(3)SMe}], as the main products, together with halogenated ligand. The [SeX(2)(L)(2)] and [SeX(2)(L-L)] complexes are all based upon distorted square planar coordination, with two Se-based lone pairs assumed to occupy the (vacant) axial sites, and Se-S bond distances of ca. 2.4-2.6 Å. The 1:1 species [SeX(2)(SMe(2))] are T-shaped with trans X groups and weak intermolecular SeX contacts. The SeCl(2)-thioether complexes are less stable than the bromides, both in solution in CH(2)Cl(2) and as solids at ambient temperature. Reaction of SeBr(4) with o-C(6)H(4)(SMe(2))(2) leads to the red complex cis-[SeBr(2){κ(1)-o-C(6)H(4)(SMe)(2)}(2)] as the major product; together with a minor (yellow) product formed via bromination of the aromatic ring, [SeBr(2){4-Br-1,2-(SMe)(2)-C(6)H(3)}(2)]. The crystal structure confirms a V-shaped SeBr(2) unit with long (weak) κ(1)-interactions to one S donor (meta to the Br) from two brominated ligands--an extremely rare coordination mode for an o-phenylene dithioether. Similar reaction of o-C(6)H(4)(SMe(2))(2) with SeCl(4) leads to several species, including monosulfonium cation, [1](+) formed by coupling of one thioether group to the C4-position of the phenylene backbone in an adjacent molecule, confirmed crystallographically. Carbon-sulfur coupling is also evident in the reaction of SeX(4) with o-C(6)H(4)(CH(2)SMe)(2), leading to two related cyclic sulfonium species, [2](+) and [3](+), which were structurally characterised as [SeBr(4)](2-) and [Se(2)Cl(6)](2-) salts respectively. Reaction of SeX(4) with SeMe(2) leads to halogenation of the ligand to form Me(2)SeX(2) and reduction of the SeX(4) to elemental selenium.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jolleys
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Levason
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D016566:Organoselenium Compounds; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D013440:Sulfides