Palladium and platinum dihalide complexes with dl-selenomethionine

Palladium and platinum dihalides react with dl-selenomethionine (sem), yielding the complexes [M(sem)X2](M=Pd,X=Cl or Br;M=Pt,X=Cl) and, in the presence of N,N-dimethylformamide (dmf), the species [M(sem)X2]·dmf (M=Pd, X=I; M=Pt, X=Cl, Br or I). The complexes were characterized by i.r. and proton n.m.r. spectroscopy and by thermogravimetric analysis, and their properties were compared with those of the dl-methionine analogues [M(Met)Cl2] and [Pt(Met)Cl2]·dmf. On the basis of n.m.r. data in deuteriated dimethyl sulfoxide, the platinum complexes undergo ligand rearrangement to form [Pt(sem)2]2+ moieties whereas the solvent does not seem to interact with the palladium coordination sphere, which contains the chelated N, Se ligand.