Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Phosph(V)azane-Tin(IV) Complex

Abstract

The reaction of bis(anilino)phosphine oxide (C₆H₅NH)₂P(O)H, 1 with Bu₂ ⁿSnCl₂ in the presence of an excess of triethylamine (TEA) in dry tetrahydrofurane (THF) yields the novel N,O-bonded tin complex Bu₂ ⁿSn[NPh(O)P(H)NPh(HNEt₃)]₂, 2. TEA is used as a base to deprotonate the phosphazane ligand and is separated as Et₃NH⁺Cl^?, whereas HTEA⁺ exists in the final product 2 and act as a charge balancing and H-bond structure–directing agent. This new compound has been fully characterized by means of IR, MS, and multinuclear (¹H, ³¹P, and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR) spectroscopy.     

A Novel Synthesis of AlCl[(NPh)2P(O)H] and SiCl2[(NPh)2P(O)H]: Two New Phosph(V)azane Derivatives

Reactions of phosph(V)azane derivatives of bis(anilino)phosphine oxide (PhNH)₂P(O)H (1) with AlCl₃ and SiCl₄ produce two new phosph(V)azane complexes, AlCl[(NPh)₂P(O)H] (2) and SiCl₂[(NPh)₂P(O)H] (3). In these reactions, an HCl elimination occurs and M─N bonds (M = Si, Al) form directly between a bis(anilino)phosphine oxide ligand with aluminum and silicon halides. The reactions do not require any base to deprotonate the phosphazane ligand. The final products have been fully characterized by means of elemental analysis and IR, MS, and multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, ²⁷Al, and ²⁹Si) spectroscopy.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and X‐ray Structures of Ru3(CO)9(dotpm)(L) Complexes [L = PPh3, P(C6H4Cl‐p)3, and PPh2(C6H4Br‐p)]

The reaction of Ru₃(CO)₁₀(dotpm) ( 1 ) [dotpm = (bis(di‐ortho‐tolylphosphanyl)methane)] and one equivalent of L [L = PPh₃, P(C₆H₄Cl‐p)₃ and PPh₂(C₆H₄Br‐p)] in refluxing n‐hexane afforded a series of derivatives [Ru₃(CO)₉(dotpm)L] ( 2 – 4 ), respectively, in ca. 67–70 % yield. Complexes 2 – 4 were characterized by elemental analysis (CHN), IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C{¹H} NMR and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of 2 , 3 , and 4 were established by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The bidentate dotpm and monodentate phosphine ligands occupy equatorial positions with respect to the Ru triangle. The effect of substitution resulted in significant differences in the Ru–Ru and Ru–P bond lengths.     

Insertion of SnCl2 into Pt–Cl bonds: synthesis and characterization of four- and five-coordinate trichlorostannylplatinum(II) complexes

Reaction of platinum(IV) chloride with SnCl₂?·?2H₂O in the presence of [NHR₃]₃Cl (R?=?Me, Et) in 3M hydrochloric acid affords the anionic five-coordinate platinum(II) complexes [NHR₃]₃[Pt(SnCl₃)₅], R?=?Me (1), Et (2), respectively. Moreover, platinum(IV) chloride reacts with SnCl₂?·?2H₂O in the presence of bis(triphenylphosphoranylidene)ammonium chloride in acetone/dichloromethane to form [N(PPh₃)₂]₃[Pt(SnCl₃)₅] (3). In contrast, reaction of an acetone solution of platinum(IV) chloride with SnCl₂?·?2H₂O in the presence of bis(triphenylphosphoranylidene) ammonium chloride resulted in the formation of cis-[N(PPh₃)₂]₂[PtCl₂(SnCl₃)₂] (4). The same products are obtained by using a platinum(II) salt as starting material. Similarly, cis and trans- dichlorobis(diethyl sulfide)platinum(II) reacts with SnCl₂?·?2H₂O in 5M hydrochloric acid to give [PtCl(SEt₂)₃]₃[Pt(SnCl₃)₅] (5) by facile insertion of SnCl₂ into the Pt–Cl bond. However, treatment of an acetone solution of cis- and trans-[PtCl₂(SEt₂)₂] with SnCl₂?·?2H₂O in the presence of a small amount of HCl resulted in the formation of 5, which dissociates in solution to give [PtCl₂(SEt₂)₂]. The complexes have been fully characterized by elemental analysis and multinuclear NMR (¹H,?¹³C,?¹⁹⁵Pt,?¹¹⁹Sn) spectroscopy. A structure determination of crystals grown from a solution of 2 by X-ray diffraction methods shows that platinum adopts a regular trigonal bipyramidal geometry.     

Tin(II) Halide Insertion or Halogen Exchange in the Reactions of Dihaloplatinum(II) Complexes with Tin(II) Halide

Reactions of SnCl₂ with the complexes cis‐[PtCl₂(P₂)] (P₂=dppf (1,1′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene), dppp (1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphino)propane=1,1′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)bis[1,1‐diphenylphosphine]), dppb (1,4‐bis(diphenylphosphino)butane=1,1′‐(butane‐1,4‐diyl)bis[1,1‐diphenylphosphine]), and dpppe (1,5‐bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane=1,1′‐(pentane‐1,5‐diyl)bis[1,1‐diphenylphosphine])) resulted in the insertion of SnCl₂ into the Pt? Cl bond to afford the cis‐[PtCl(SnCl₃)(P₂)] complexes. However, the reaction of the complexes cis‐[PtCl₂(P₂)] (P₂=dppf, dppm (bis(diphenylphosphino)methane=1,1′‐methylenebis[1,1‐diphenylphosphine]), dppe (1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane=1,1′‐(ethane‐1,2‐diyl)bis[1,1‐diphenylphosphine]), dppp, dppb, and dpppe; P=Ph₃P and (MeO)₃P) with SnX₂ (X=Br or I) resulted in the halogen exchange to yield the complexes [PtX₂(P₂)]. In contrast, treatment of cis‐[PtBr₂(dppm)] with SnBr₂ resulted in the insertion of SnBr₂ into the Pt? Br bond to form cis‐[Pt(SnBr₃)₂(dppm)], and this product was in equilibrium with the starting complex cis‐[PtBr₂(dppm)]. Moreover, the reaction of cis‐[PtCl₂(dppb)] with a mixture SnCl₂/SnI₂ in a 2 : 1 mol ratio resulted in the formation of cis‐[PtI₂(dppb)] as a consequence of the selective halogen‐exchange reaction. ³¹P‐NMR Data for all complexes are reported, and a correlation between the chemical shifts and the coupling constants was established for mono‐ and bis(trichlorostannyl)platinum complexes. The effect of the alkane chain length of the ligand and Sn^II halide is described.     

Facile synthesis,X-ray analysis,and spectroscopic studies of di-iron propanedithiolate complexes with tris(aromatic)phosphine ligands

Three new propanedithiolate-type iron–sulfur complexes containing tris(aromatic)phosphine ligands, [{(μ-SCH₂)₂CH₂}Fe₂(CO)₅L] (L?=?P(PhOMe-p)₃, 1; P(PhMe-p)₃, 2; P(PhF-p)₃, 3), have been prepared through carbonyl substitution in the presence of Me₃NO. The new complexes 1–3 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, and ³¹P{H} NMR spectra. The molecular structures of 1–3 were unequivocally determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, in which the tris(aromatic)phosphine coordinated to Fe resides in an apical position of the pseudo-square-pyramidal geometry. IR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallographic analysis for 1–3 have indicated that the highly electron rich tris(aromatic)phosphine ligands (where the corresponding electron-donating abilities display the following order of P(PhOMe-p)₃?>?P(PhMe-p)₃?>?P(PhF-p)₃) result in a considerable red shift of the CO-stretching frequencies and a clear change of the Fe–Fe bond distances in 1–3.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New Silicon and Titanium Derivatives of Bis(anilino)phosphine Oxide

The reactions of bis(anilino)phosphine oxide (C ₆ H ₅ NH) ₂ P(O) H with (C ₅ H ₅ )₂TiCl₂ or Me₂SiCl₂ in a 1:1 molar ratio in THF results in the isolation of new phosph(V)azane complexes (C₅H₅)₂Ti[(N C₆H₅)₂P(O)H] (1) or Cl ₂ Si[(N C ₆ H ₅ )₂P(O)H] (2), respectively. In these reactions, HCl or CH₄ elimination occurs and N-Ti or N-Si bonds form directly between a bis(anilino)phosphine oxide ligand and organotitanium or organosilicon compounds. The products(1) and (2) have been fully characterized by elemental analysis as well as ¹ H, ³¹ P, ²⁹ Si NMR, and IR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Aminophosphines,Bis(amino)phosphine Derivatives,and Their Molybdenum(0) Complexes

Functionalized bis(amino)phosphines of the type PhP(NHR)₂ ( 1a–c ) and aminophosphines of the type Ph₂PNHR ( 2a–c ) have been synthesized by treating PhPCl₂ or Ph₂PCl with corresponding primary amines of H₂N-R where R = -CH₂SO₃H, -C₆H₄SO₃H, and benzo-15-crown-5. The molybdenum(0) complex of the aminophosphine ( 3 ) has been obtained by reacting cis-[Mo(CO)₄(bipy)] with aminophosphine ( 2c ). The synthesized aminophosphines, bis(amino)phosphines, and the molybdenum(0) complex have been characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR, and MS spectroscopic techniques and by elemental analysis.     

Synthesis and spectroscopy of cis-configured mononuclear palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of chalcogeno o-carboranes and structures of [Pt(SCboPh)2(dppm)], [Pt(SeCboPh)2(dppm)], [Pt(SCboS)(PMe2Ph)2] and [Pt(SCboS)(PMePh2)2]

The reactions of [MCl₂(P^∩P)] and [MCl₂(PR₃)₂)] with 1-mercapto-2-phenyl-o-carborane/NaSeCb^oPh and 1,2-dimercapto-o-carborane yield mononuclear complexes of composition, [M(SCb^oPh)₂(P^∩P)], [M(SeCb^oPh)₂(P^∩P)] (M = Pd or Pt; P^∩P = dppm (bis(diphenylphosphino)methane), dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) or dppp (1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane)) and [M(SCb^oS)(PR₃)₂] (2PR₃ = dppm, dppe, 2PEt₃, 2PMe₂Ph, 2PMePh₂ or 2PPh₃). These complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis and NMR (¹H, ³¹P, ⁷⁷Se and ¹⁹⁵Pt) spectroscopy. The ¹J(Pt–P) values and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR chemical shifts are influenced by the nature of phosphine as well as thiolate ligand. Molecular structures of [Pt(SCb^oPh)₂(dppm)], [Pt(SeCb^oPh)₂(dppm)], [Pt(SCb^oS)(PMe₂Ph)₂] and [Pt(SCb^oS)(PMePh₂)₂] have been established by single crystal X-ray structural analyses. The platinum atom in all these complexes acquires a distorted square planar configuration defined by two cis-bound phosphine ligands and two chalcogenolate groups. The carborane rings are mutually anti in [Pt(SCb^oPh)₂(dppm)] and [Pt(SeCb^oPh)₂(dppm)].     

NMR studies of dynamic behavior of dialkyl(acetylacetonato)bis(tertiary phosphine)cobalt(III) and related complexes in solution

The ¹H, ³¹P and ¹³C NMR spectra of cis-dialkyl(acetylacetonato)bis(tertiary phosphine)cobalt(III) complexes were obtained in several solvents. These complexes have an octahedral configuration with trans tertiary phosphine ligands. The coordinated tertiary phosphine ligands are partly dissociated in solution. One of the phosphine ligands in CoR₂(acac)(PR₃′)₂ can be readily displaced with pyridine bases to give pyridine-coordinated complexes. From observation of the ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectra several kinetic and thermodynamic data for exchange reactions and displacement reactions of tertiary phosphines were obtained.     

Synthesis and spectroscopy of cis-configured mononuclear palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of chalcogeno o-carboranes and structures of [Pt(SCboPh)2(dppm)], [Pt(SeCboPh)2(dppm)], [Pt(SCboS)(PMe2Ph)2] and [Pt(SCboS)(PMePh2)2]

The reactions of [MCl₂(P^∩P)] and [MCl₂(PR₃)₂)] with 1-mercapto-2-phenyl-o-carborane/NaSeCb^oPh and 1,2-dimercapto-o-carborane yield mononuclear complexes of composition, [M(SCb^oPh)₂(P^∩P)], [M(SeCb^oPh)₂(P^∩P)] (M = Pd or Pt; P^∩P = dppm (bis(diphenylphosphino)methane), dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) or dppp (1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane)) and [M(SCb^oS)(PR₃)₂] (2PR₃ = dppm, dppe, 2PEt₃, 2PMe₂Ph, 2PMePh₂ or 2PPh₃). These complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis and NMR (¹H, ³¹P, ⁷⁷Se and ¹⁹⁵Pt) spectroscopy. The ¹J(Pt–P) values and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR chemical shifts are influenced by the nature of phosphine as well as thiolate ligand. Molecular structures of [Pt(SCb^oPh)₂(dppm)], [Pt(SeCb^oPh)₂(dppm)], [Pt(SCb^oS)(PMe₂Ph)₂] and [Pt(SCb^oS)(PMePh₂)₂] have been established by single crystal X-ray structural analyses. The platinum atom in all these complexes acquires a distorted square planar configuration defined by two cis-bound phosphine ligands and two chalcogenolate groups. The carborane rings are mutually anti in [Pt(SCb^oPh)₂(dppm)] and [Pt(SeCb^oPh)₂(dppm)].     

Bimetallic bis(diphenylphosphino)acetylene bridged copper(I) complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives: synthesis,crystal structure,and spectroscopic characterization

A new series of bimetallic bis(diphenylphosphino)acetylene-bridged copper(I) 1,10-phenanthroline complexes, [Cu₂(dppa)₂(L)₂](BF₄)₂; L?=?1,10-phenanthroline (1); 4-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline (2); 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (3); and 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (4), have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic methods. The X-ray structures of 1 and 4 were determined. The structures consist of centrosymmetric bimetallic 10-membered chair-like dimetallacycles. In 1, intermolecular C–H?π interactions result in bending of the phenanthroline ligand and sterically induced lengthening of one Cu–P bond. In 1–4, the ³¹P NMR downfield coordination shift, relative to the free ligand, correlates with the basic strength of the 1,10-phenanthroline ligands.     

Mono- and dinuclear metallacyclic complexes of Pt(II) synthesized from some eugenol derivatives

The complexes K[PtCl₃(Meug)] (1; Meug = methyleugenol), K[PtCl₃(Meteug)] (2; Meteug = methyl eugenoxyacetate), and K[PtCl₃(Eteug)] (3; Eteug = ethyl eugenoxyacetate) reacted with AgNO₃, SnCl₂, KOH, or ethanol–water solutions to lose one aryl proton and form dinuclear metallacyclic complexes Pt₂Cl₂(Meug-1H)₂ (4), Pt₂Cl₂(Meteug-1H)₂ (5), and Pt₂Cl₂(Eteug-1H)₂ (6), respectively. Complexes 4–6 reacted with aliphatic, aromatic, and heterocyclic amines to give various mononuclear metallacyclic platinum complexes 7–15. ¹H NMR spectra showed that in 4–15 Meug, Meteug, and Eteug are bound with Pt(II) both at the benzene carbon and at the ethylenic double bond of the side chain. NOESY spectra and single-crystal X-ray diffraction indicated that in 7–15 the amines are in cis-position with respect to the ethylenic double bond.     

Synthesis,spectroscopy and structure of cis,cis,trans:N,N;P,P;S,S-[bis(triphenylphosphine)] [bis(pyrimidine-2-thiolato)]ruthenium(II)

Reaction of RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃with pyrimidine-2-thione (HpymS) in a 1:2?mol ratio in dry benzene in the presence of triethylamine as base yielded a complex of stoichiometry [Ru(pymS)₂(PPh₃)₂] (1). This has been characterized using analytical data and IR, ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. ¹H NMR confirmed the deprotonation of HpymS. ³¹P NMR spectra showed a single peak confirming equivalent P atoms. Complex 1 crystallizes in space group Pī and HpymS acts as a η²-N,S-deprotonated bidentate anionic ligand. The coordination geometry around the Ru center is distorted octahedral with cis dispositions of P atoms, as well as two N atoms of pymS^– and trans S atoms of pymS^–. Important bond distances and angles are: Ru–N, 2.119(2), 2.106(2); Ru–S, 2.4256(8), 2.4413(8); and Ru–P, 2.3266(7), 2.3167(7)?Å; P(2)–Ru(1)–P(1), 96.07(3); N(21)–Ru(1)–N(11), 83.46(9); and S(1)–Ru(1)–S(2), 153.02(3)°.     

Reactions of cisplatin hydrolytes, cis-[Pt(15NH3)2(H2O) 2]2+, with N-acetyl-L-cysteine

The reaction of cis-[Pt(¹⁵NH₃)2(H₂O) ₂] ²⁺ (3) with N-acetylcysteine [H₃accys] was investigated in aqueous solution. In this reaction, the ammine in the platinum complex formed was liberated. A mono-dentate sulfur-boundplatinum(II) product cis-[Pt(¹⁵NH₃)₂(H₂O)(H2accys-S)]⁺ (7) and six-membered che-late ring complex cis-[Pt(¹⁵NH₃)₂ (Haccys-S,O)] (8) were formed in solution. The dinuclear sulfur-bridged complex 9, giving a broad peak in ¹⁵N NMR, was also observed, but only present in very tiny amounts. The mass spectrometry (ES-MS) was undertaken from this re action, and the product detected was only the dinuclear sulfur bridged platinum species and species related to it by ammine loss.     

A Dissociative Route to C?H Bond Activation: Ligand Cyclometalation in cis‐Dimethyl[(sulfinyl‐κS)bis[methane]][tris(2‐methylphenyl)phosphine]platinum(2+)

The dialkyl compound cis‐dimethyl[(sulfinyl‐κS)bis[methane]][tris(2‐methylphenyl)phosphine]platinum(2+) (cis‐[Pt(Me)₂(dmso)(P(o‐tol)₃]; 1 ) has been isolated from the reaction of cis‐dimethylbis[(sulfinyl‐κS)bis[methane]]platinum(2+) (cis‐[Pt(Me)₂(dmso)₂]) with tris(2‐methylphenyl)phosphane (P(o‐tol)₃). Restricted rotation around the P? C_ipso bonds of the phosphane ligand generates two different conformers, 1a and 1b , in rapid exchange in non‐polar solvents at low temperature. Strong through‐space contacts between the ortho‐Me substituent groups on the ligand and the cis‐Me groups in the coordination plane were determined, which proved useful for identifying the atropisomers formed. At room temperature, ¹H‐NMR spectra of 1 maintain a ‘static’ pattern upon onset of easy and rapid ortho‐platination, leading to [[2‐[bis(2‐methylphenyl)phosphino‐κP]phenyl]methyl‐κC]methyl[(sulfinyl‐κS)bis[methane]]platinum(2+) ( 2 ), a new C,P‐cyclometalated compound of platinum(II), with liberation of methane. The process has been studied by ¹H‐ and ³¹P{¹H}‐NMR in CDCl₃, and kinetics experiments were performed by conventional spectrophotometric techniques. The first‐order rate constants k_c decrease with the addition of dimethyl sulfoxide until the process is blocked by the presence of a sufficient excess of sulfoxide. This behavior reveals a mechanism initiated by ligand dissociation and formation of a three‐coordinate species. The value of the rate constant for dimethyl sulfoxide dissociation k₁ has been measured independently over a wide temperature range by both ¹H‐NMR ligand exchange (isotopic labeling experiments) and ligand substitution (stopped‐flow pyridine for dimethyl sulfoxide substitution). The rates of the two processes are in reasonable agreement at the same temperature, and a single Eyring plot can be constructed with the two sets of kinetics data. However, the value of the derived dissociation constant at 308 K (k₁=6.5±0.3 s^?1) is at least two orders of magnitude higher than that of cyclometalation (k_c=0.0098±0.0009 s^?1 at 308 K). Clearly, the dissociation step is not rate‐determining for cyclometalation. A multistep mechanism consistent with mass‐law retardation is derived, which involves a pre‐equilibrium that controls the concentration of an unsaturated three‐coordinate, 14‐electron T‐shaped cis‐[PtMe₂{P(o‐tol)₃}] intermediate. Cyclometalation is initiated in this latter by an agostic interaction with the σ(C? H) orbital of a methyl group. Oxidative addition of the C? H bond follows, yielding a cyclometalated‐hydrido 16‐electron Pt(IV) five‐coordinate intermediate. Finally, reductive elimination and re‐entry of dimethyl sulfoxide with liberation of methane should yield the cyclometalated species 2 .     

Aminophosphine ligands: synthesis,coordination chemistry,and activity of their palladium(II) complexes in Heck and Suzuki cross-coupling reactions

The reaction of 4-aminodiphenylamine or 2-aminofluorene with two equivalents of PPh₂Cl in the presence of Et₃N gives new bis(diphenylphosphino)amines N,N-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4-aminodiphenylamine 1 and N,N-bis(diphenylphosphino)-2-aminofluorene 2 in good yields. Oxidation of 1 or 2 with hydrogen peroxide, elemental sulfur or gray selenium affords the corresponding chalcogen derivatives. The palladium and platinum complexes of these P–N–P donor ligands were prepared by the reaction of the bis(phosphino)amines with MCl₂(cod) (M = Pd or Pt, cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene). All the new compounds have been characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods, including ¹H-³¹P NMR, ¹H-¹³C HETCOR, or ¹H-¹H COSY correlation experiments. The Pd(II) complexes were investigated as catalysts in the Suzuki and Heck reactions; both showed good catalytic activity affording high yields of the desired products.     

Synthetic and structural studies of the diiron toluenedithiolate carbonyl complexes with monophosphine ligands

Four diiron toluenedithiolate complexes 2–5 with monophosphine ligands are reported. Treatment of [μ-SC₆H₃(CH₃)S-μ]Fe₂(CO)₆ (1) with tris(3-chlorophenyl)phosphine, tris(4-chlorophenyl)phosphine, tris(4-methylphenyl)phosphine or 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde, and Me₃NO?2H₂O in MeCN resulted in the formation of [μ-SC₆H₃(CH₃)S-μ]Fe₂(CO)₅[P(3-C₆H₄Cl)₃] (2), [μ-SC₆H₃(CH₃)S-μ]Fe₂(CO)₅[P(4-C₆H₄Cl)₃] (3), [μ-SC₆H₃(CH₃)S-μ]Fe₂(CO)₅[P(4-C₆H₄CH₃)₃] (4), and [μ-SC₆H₃(CH₃)S-μ]Fe₂(CO)₅[Ph₂P(2-C₆H₄CHO)] (5) in 64–82% yields. Complexes 2–5 have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR, ³¹P{¹H} NMR, ¹³C{¹H} NMR and further confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The molecular structures show that 2–5 contain a butterfly diiron toluenedithiolate cluster coordinated by five terminal carbonyls and an apical monophosphine.     

Gold(I) Complexation with Trialkyl/Triaryl Phosphine Selenide Ligands

Abstract

A number of phosphine selenide ligands and their gold(I) complexes of general formula R₃P?Se?Au?X (where X is Cl^?, Br^? and CN^? and R = phenyl, cyclohexyl and tolyl) were prepared. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and ³¹P NMR spectroscopic methods. In the IR spectra of all complexes a decrease in frequency of P?Se bond upon coordination was observed, indicating a decrease in P?Se bond order. ³¹P NMR showed that the electronegativity of the substituents is the most important factor determining the ³¹P NMR chemical shift. It was observed that phosphorus resonance is more downfield in alkyl substituted phosphine selenides, as compared to the aryl substituted ones. Ligand disproportionation in the complex Cy₃P?SeAuCN in solution to form [Au(CN)₂]^? and [(Cy₃P?Se)₂Au]⁺ was investigated by ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy.