1,2‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile and Vinyl Ethers: Cyclic Ketene Imines on the Pathway to 1 : 2 Cycloadducts

(E)‐ and (Z)‐1,2‐bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile (BTE; (=E)‐ and (Z)‐1,2‐bis(trifluoromethyl)but‐2‐enedinitrile) were reacted with an excess of methyl vinyl ether, used as solvent, and furnished 1 : 2 adducts 6 (54%) and cyclobutanes 3 as 1 : 1 adducts (41%). The four diastereoisomeric bis‐adducts 6 (different ratios from (E)‐ and (Z)‐BTE) are derivatives of 1‐azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct‐5‐ene; X‐ray analyses and ¹⁹F‐NMR spectra revealed their structures. Since the cyclobutanes 3 are resistant to vinyl ether, the pathways leading to mono‐ and bis‐adducts must compete on the level of the intermediate l,4‐zwitterions 1 and 2 . The latter either cyclize to the cyclobutanes 3 or to six‐membered cyclic ketene imines 8 which accept a second molecule of vinyl ether to yield the bis‐adducts 6 . The occurrence of the highly strained ketene imines 8 gains credibility by comparison to stable seven‐membered cyclic ketene imines recently reported.     

Reactions of Methyl Diazoacetate with (E)‐ and (Z)‐1,2‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile: Novel and Unanticipated Pathways

The cycloadditions of methyl diazoacetate to 2,3‐bis(trifluoromethyl)fumaronitrile ((E)‐ BTE ) and 2,3‐bis(trifluoromethyl)maleonitrile ((Z)‐ BTE ) furnish the 4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazoles 13 . The retention of dipolarophile configuration proceeds for (E)‐ BTE with > 99.93% and for (Z)‐ BTE with > 99.8% (CDCl₃, 25°), suggesting concertedness. Base catalysis (1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), proton sponge) converts the cycloadducts, trans‐ 13 and cis‐ 13 , to a 94 : 6 equilibrium mixture (CDCl₃, r.t.); the first step is N‐deprotonation, since reaction with methyl fluorosulfonate affords the 4,5‐dihydro‐1‐methyl‐1H‐pyrazoles. Competing with the cis/trans isomerization of 13 is the formation of a bis(dehydrofluoro) dimer (two diastereoisomers), the structure of which was elucidated by IR, ¹⁹F‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy. The reaction slows when DABCO is bound by HF, but F^? as base keeps the conversion to 22 going and binds HF. The diazo group in 22 suggests a common intermediate for cis/trans isomerization of 13 and conversion to 22 : reversible ring opening of N‐deprotonated 13 provides 18 , a derivative of methyl diazoacetate with a carbanionic substituent. Mechanistic comparison with the reaction of diazomethane and dimethyl 2,3‐dicyanofumarate, a related tetra‐acceptor‐ethylene, brings to light unanticipated divergencies.     

1,2‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile: (2+2) Cycloadditions with Vinyl Ethers

The title compound (short version: BTE) occurs in (E)‐ and (Z)‐isomers (both with b.p. of ca. 100°) which equilibrate with nucleophilic catalysts. Both undergo (2+2) cycloadditions with methyl vinyl ether at 25°. Three stereogenic centers in the cyclobutanes led to four rac‐diastereoisomers, which were obtained in pure and crystalline state. The structures were elucidated by ¹⁹F‐NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by two X‐ray analyses. The cycloadditions were not stereospecific: e.g., (E)‐BTE furnished 73% trans‐adducts (with respect to the CF₃ groups) and 27% cis‐adducts. The loss of stereochemical integrity occurs in the intermediate gauche‐zwitterions which can cyclize or rotate, but not dissociate. Under extreme conditions (2M LiClO₄ in Et₂O, 70°, 3 months), the thermodynamic equilibrium of the four cyclobutanes was achieved. Considerations of Coulombic attraction and conformational strain in the zwitterionic intermediates allow us to rationalize the observed proportions of diastereoisomeric cyclobutanes. Ethyl vinyl ether and butyl vinyl ether furnished cyclobutanes in similar diastereoisomer ratios.     

Reactions of Di(tert‐butyl)diazomethane with Acceptor‐Substituted Ethylenes

Di(tert‐butyl)diazomethane ( 4 ) is a nucleophilic 1,3‐dipole with strong steric hindrance at one terminus. In its reaction with 2,3‐bis(trifluoromethyl)fumaronitrile ((E)‐ BTE ), a highly electrophilic tetra‐acceptor‐substituted ethene, an imino‐substituted cyclopentene 9 is formed as a 1 : 2 product. The open‐chain zwitterion 10 , assumed as intermediate, adds the second molecule of (E)‐ BTE . The ¹⁹F‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectra allow the structural assignment of two diastereoisomers, 9A and 9B . The zwitterion 10 can also be intercepted by dimethyl 2,3‐dicyanofumarate ( 11 ) and furnishes diastereoisomeric cyclopentenes 12A and 12B ; an X‐ray‐analysis of 12B confirms the ‘mixed’ 1 : 1 : 1 product. Competing is an (E)‐ BTE ‐catalyzed decomposition of 4 to give 2,3,4,4‐tetramethylpent‐1‐ene ( 7 )+N₂; the reaction of (E)‐ BTE with a trace of water appears to be responsible for the chain initiation. The H₂SO₄‐catalyzed decomposition of diazoalkane 4 , indeed, produced the alkene 7 in high yield. The attack on the hindered diazoalkane 4 by 11 is slower than that by (E)‐ BTE ; the zwitterionic intermediate 21 undergoes cyclization and furnishes the tetrasubstituted furan 22 . In fumaronitrile, electrophilicity and steric demand are diminished, and a 1,3‐cycloaddition produces the 4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazole derivative 25 . The reaction of 4 with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate leads to pyrazole 29 +isobutene.     

Reactions of 2‐Unsubstituted 1H‐Imidazole 3‐Oxides with 2,2‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,1‐dicarbonitrile: A Stepwise 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition

The reaction of 1,4,5‐trisubstituted 1H‐imidazole‐3‐oxides 1 with 2,2‐bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,1‐dicarbonitrile ( 7 , BTF) yielded the corresponding 1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐imidazol‐2‐ones 10 and 2‐(1,3‐dihydro‐2H‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene)malononitriles 11 , respectively, depending on the solvent used. In one example, a 1 : 1 complex, 12 , of the 1H‐imidazole 3‐oxide and hexafluoroacetone hydrate was isolated as a second product. The formation of the products is explained by a stepwise 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition and subsequent fragmentation. The structures of 11d and 12 were established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Reactions of Sterically Hindered ‘Thiocarbonyl Ylides' with 1,2‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile: Isolation of a Cyclic Seven‐Membered Ketene Imine

When ‘thiocarbonyl ylide' 1A (=(2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐3‐oxocyclobutylidenesulfonio)methanide) is generated from the dihydrothiadiazole 5A by N₂ extrusion at 40° in the presence of 2,3‐bis(trifluoromethyl)fumaronitrile ((E)‐ 10 ), a cyclic seven‐membered ketene imine 11 and trans‐thiolane 12 are formed (81 : 19). The reaction of 1A with (Z)‐ 10 furnishes 11, 12 , and cis‐thiolane 25 in the ratio of 82 : 12 : 6. The strained ketene imine 11 is crystalline and storable as a consequence of the stabilizing ‘perfluoroalkyl effect'. The ketene imine group is stereogenic; 11 has a transoid structure with respect to the CF₃ groups, and there is no evidence for the cisoid diastereoisomer. Ketene imine 11 adds H₂O, MeOH, and PhNH₂. In solution at 60°, 11 undergoes an irreversible ring contraction, furnishing the thiolanes 12 / 25 98 : 2. The rate constant of this first‐order rearrangement increases 850‐fold, as the solvent polarity rises from cyclohexane to CD₃CN, in accordance with a zwitterionic intermediate. It is the same intermediate that is initially formed from 1A and 10 , and its intramolecular N‐ and C‐alkylation give rise to 11 and 12 + 25 , respectively. In contrast to 1A , thiocarbonyl ylide 27 , which harbors the sterically less‐demanding adamantylidene group, reacts with (E)‐ 10 to give trans‐thiolane 29 , but no ketene imine. The precursor 26 catalyzes the (Z)/(E) isomerization of 10 ((E)/(Z) ca. 95 : 5 at equilibrium), thus obviating conclusions on steric course and mechanism of this cycloaddition.     

A Novel Al(III)‐Selective Electrochemical Sensor Based on N,N′‐Bis(salicylidene)‐1,2‐phenylenediamine Complexes

A polyvinylchloride membrane sensor based on N,N′‐bis(salecylidene)‐1,2‐phenylenediamine (salophen) as membrane carrier was prepared and investigated as a Al³⁺‐selective electrode. The sensor exhibits a Nernstian response toward Al(III) over a wide concentration range (8.0×10^?7–3.0×10^?2 M), with a detection limit of 6.0×10^?7 M. The potentiometric response of the sensor is independent of the pH of the test solution in the pH range 3.2–4.5. The electrode possesses advantages of very fast response and high selectivity for Al³⁺ in comparison with alkali, alkaline earth and some heavy metal ions. The sensor was used as an indicator electrode, in the potentiometric titration of aluminum ion and in determination of Al³⁺ contents in drug, water and waste water samples.     

Synthesis and properties of ortho‐linked aromatic polyimides based on 1,2‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)‐4‐tert‐butylbenzene

A bis(ether amine) containing the ortho‐substituted phenylene unit and pendant tert‐butyl group, 1,2‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)‐4‐tert‐butylbenzene, was synthesized and used as a monomer to prepare polyimides with six commercial dianhydrides via a conventional two‐stage procedure. The intermediate poly(amic acid)s had inherent viscosities of 0.78–1.44 dL/g, and most of them could be thermally converted into transparent, flexible, and tough polyimide films. The inherent viscosities of the resulting polyimides were in the range of 0.46–0.87 dL/g. All polyimides were noncrystalline, and most of them showed excellent solubility in polar organic solvents. The glass‐transition temperatures of these polyimides were in the range of 222–259 °C in differential scanning calorimetry and 212–282 °C in thermomechanicl analysis. These polyimides showed no appreciable decomposition up to 500 °C in thermogravimetric analysis in air or nitrogen. A comparative study of the properties with the corresponding polyimides without pendant tert‐butyl groups derived from 1,2‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)benzene is also presented. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1551–1559, 2000     

Kristall- und Molekülstruktur von Bis(pyridin)bis(trifluoromethyl)zink

Crystal and Molecular Structure of Bis(pyridine)bis(trifluoromethyl)zinc Bis(pyridin)bis(trifluoromethyl)zinc 1 has been isolated and characterized by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The title compound represents the first structure determination of a fully fluorinated alkylzinc compound (monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, Z = 4, a = 8.856(3), b = 18.158(3), c = 8.979(3) Å, β = 98.14(2)°, R = 0.054, R_w = 0.035). The zinc atom is in a distorted tetrahedral environment. The molecular structure of [ClZn(CCl₂CF₃) η₂O]₂ 2 was solved, but is not included in a structural comparison due to crystallographic disorder.     

Synthesis and characterization of three dinuclear copper(I) complexes of 1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane

Three dinuclear copper(I) complexes, [Cu₂(µ‐Cl)₂(1,2‐(PPh₂)₂‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀)₂]·2CH₂Cl₂ ( 1 ), [Cu₂(µ‐Br)₂(1,2‐(PPh₂)₂‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀)₂]·2THF ( 2 ) and {Cu₂(µ‐I)₂[1,2‐(PPh₂)₂‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀]₂} ( 3 ) have been synthesized by the reactions of CuX (X = Cl, Br and I) with the closo ligand 1,2‐(PPh₂)₂‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀. All these complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray structure determination. Single crystal X‐ray structure determinations show that every complex contained di‐µ‐X‐bridged structure involving a crossed parallelogram plane formed by two Cu atoms and two X atoms (X = Cl, Br, I). The geometry at the Cu atom was a distorted tetrahedron, in which two positions were occupied by two P atoms of the PPh₂ groups connected to the two C atoms of carborane (Cc), and the other two resulted from two X atoms which bridged the other Cu atom at the same time. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of copper(I) complexes with 1,2‐diphenylphosphino‐1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane as ligand characterized by X‐ray diffraction. The catalytic property of the complex 3 for the amination of iodobenzene with aniline was also investigated. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

[Hg2(μ‐bpe)(μ‐OAc)2(μ‐SCN)2]n,a New Two‐Dimensional Coordination Polymer Involving Three Simultaneously Bridging Ligands: 1,2‐Bis(4‐pyridyle)ethene,Acetate, and Thiocyanate

A new mercury(II) complex of 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyle)ethene (bpe) with anionic acetate and thiocyanate ligands has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The single crystal X‐ray analysis shows that the complex is a two‐dimensional polymer with simultaneously bridging 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyle)ethane, acetate and thiocyanate ligands and basic repeating dimeric [Hg₂(μ‐bpe)(μ‐OAc)₂(μ‐SCN)₂] units. The two‐dimensional system forms a three‐dimensional network by packing via π‐π stacking interactions.     

Carboboration Reactions of 1,2‐Bis[(diarylphosphino)ethynyl]benzenes with Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane

The 1,2‐bis[(diarylphosphino)ethynyl]benzene derivatives 1a (R=Ph) and 1b (R=o‐tolyl) undergo 1,1‐carboboration at one of their acetylene units upon treatment with (C₆F₅)₃B at elevated temperature to give the products 5a and 5b , respectively. At room temperature, we observed the formation of the corresponding phosphireniumborate zwitterions, 7a and 7b , respectively, which may be intermediates of the 1,1‐carboboration reactions. The reaction of the more bulky 1,2‐bis[(dimesitylphosphino)ethynyl]benzene 1c with (C₆F₅)₃B takes a different course. At 110°, we observed the complete conversion to the benzopentafulvene derivative 8 which is probably formed in a typical carbocation rearrangement sequence after the initial (C₆F₅)₃B Lewis acid‐addition step. The compounds 5a, 5b, 7b , and 8 were characterized by X‐ray crystal‐structure analyses.     

Synthesis of Three‐, Five‐, and Six‐Membered Heterocycles Derived from New β‐Amino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) Alcohols

Nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of α‐imino ketones 2 , derived from arylglyoxal, with Ruppert–Prakash reagent (CF₃SiMe₃) offers a convenient access to the corresponding O‐silylated β‐imino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) alcohols. In a ‘one‐pot’ procedure, by treatment with NaBH₄, these products smoothly undergo reduction and desilylation yielding the expected β‐amino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) alcohols 4 . The latter were used as starting materials for the synthesis of diverse trifluoromethylated heterocycles, including aziridines 5 , 1,3‐oxazolidines 8 , 1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐ones 9 , 1,3,2‐oxazaphospholidine 2‐oxides 10 , 1,2,3‐oxathiazolidine 2‐oxides 11 , and morpholine‐2,3‐diones 12 . An optically active 5‐(trifluoromethyl)‐substituted 1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐one 9g was also obtained.     

Synthesis of 5‐Aryl‐3‐(methylsulfanyl)‐1H‐pyrazoles via Three‐Component Reaction of 1,1‐Bis(methylsulfanyl)‐2‐nitroethene,Aromatic Aldehydes,and Hydrazine

An efficient approach for the preparation of functionalized 5‐aryl‐3‐(methylsulfanyl)‐1H‐pyrazoles 2 is described. This three‐component reaction between benzaldehydes 1 , NH₂NH₂?H₂O, and 1,1‐bis(methylsulfanyl)‐2‐nitroethene proceeds in EtOH under reflux conditions in good‐to‐excellent yields. The structures of 2 were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS). A plausible mechanism for this type of reaction is proposed (Scheme 2).     

双[1,2-二(三氟甲基)乙烯-1,2-二硫基]镍与丁二烯反应的溶剂效应

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)在B3LYP/6-31G(d)水平上研究了双[1,2-二(三氟甲基)乙烯-1,2-二硫基]镍(Ni[S2C2(CF3)2]2)与丁二烯的反应机理.采用极化连续介质模型(PCM),考察了溶剂对各反应驻点的电荷分布、偶极矩、溶剂化自由能的影响.计算结果表明:Ni[S2C2(CF3)2]2与丁二烯的反应为前线轨道对称性匹配的协同反应,溶剂介电常数的增大有利于稳定各反应驻点.同时在同种溶剂中,过渡态和产物稳定的程度大于反应物,从而反应更加容易进行.     

One Dimensional Coordination Polymer Constructed by1,2—Bis（4—pyridinecarboxamido）ethane and Copper（Ⅱ）

The ligand [1,2‐bis(4‐pyridinecarboxamido)ethane] (L) and the coordination polymer |[Cu(L)₂(H₂O)]‐(NO₃)₂·6H₂O|·(1) haw been synthesized and characterized by ER and ¹H NMR spectra. Their molecular structures and the packing of 1 have been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The Cu(n) in 1 is bridged by two ligands forming an infinite one‐dimensional chain like structure and L in 1 adopts a different conformation from its free state. 1 belongs to monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a = 1.2896(3) nm, b = 1.2552(8) nm, c = 2.2903(19) nm, β = 93.04(5)°, Z = 4, V = 3.702(4) nm³. The TG and DTG experiments showed that the uncoordinated H₂O can be removed at low temperature by heating, and it does not decompose until 250 °C.     

Bis(1,2-dimethoxyethan-O,O′)lithium-phosphanid, -arsanid und -chlorid – drei neue Vertreter des Bis(1,2-dimethoxyethan-O,O′)lithium-bromid-Typs

Metal Derivatives of Molecular Compounds. IX. Bis(1,2-dimethoxyethane- O,O′ )lithium Phosphanide, Arsanide, and Chloride – Three New Representatives of the Bis(1,2-dimethoxyethane- O,O′ )lithium Bromide Type Experiments to obtain thermally unstable lithium silylphosphanide at –60 °C from a 1,2-dimethoxyethane solution resulted in the isolation of its dismutation product bis(1,2-dimethoxyethane-O,O′)lithium phosphanide ( 1 ). The homologous arsanide 2 precipitated after a frozen solution of arsane in the same solvent had been treated with lithium n-butanide at –78 °C. Unexpectedly, too, the analogous chloride 3 and bromide 4 were formed in reactions of 1-chloro-2,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1λ³-phosphaethene with (1,2-dimethoxyethane-O,O′)lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)stibanide and of lithium 1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenyl-2,3-dihydro-1λ³-phosphol-3-ide with ω-bromostyrene, respectively. The monomeric complexes 1 {–100 ± 3 °C; a = 1391.1(4); b = 809.8(2); c = 1249.1(3) pm; β = 102.84(2)°}, 2 {–100 ± 3 °C; a = 1398.3(4); b = 819.8(3); c = 1258.5(4) pm; β = 103.35(2)°} and 3 {–100 ± 3 °C; a = 1308.4(2); b = 788.2(1); c = 1195.6(1) pm; β = 95.35(1)°} crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/c with four solvated ion pairs in the unit cell; they are isotypic with bis(1,2-dimethoxyethane-O,O′)lithium bromide ( 4 ) {–73 ± 2 °C; a = 1319.0(2); b = 794.1(1); c = 1214.3(2) pm; β = 96.22(1)°}, already studied by Rogers et al. [13] at room temperature. The neutral complexes show a trigonal bipyramidal configuration of symmetry C₂, pnicogenanide or halide anions occupying equatorial sites {Li–P 260.4(4); Li–As 269.8(6); Li–Cl 238.6(7); Li–Br 256.3(10) pm} and the chelate ligands spanning equatorial and axial positions {Li–O_eq 205.4(4) to 207.4(4); Li–O_ax 208.9(3) to 215.5(2) pm}. The coordination within the (dme)₂Li fragment, the Li–X distances (X = P, As, Cl, Br), the structure of the chelate rings, and the packing of the neutral complexes are discussed in detail.     

Preparation and characterization of fluorine‐containing aromatic condensation polymers. VII. Aromatic polyacetals and copolyacetals from 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoropropane and/or 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)propane and 2‐(trifluoromethyl)benzal chloride

A series of fluorine‐containing aromatic homopolyacetals and copolyacetals with a wide range of unit ratios were synthesized by the solution polycondensation of 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoropropane (bisphenol AF), 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)propane (bisphenol A), or both with 2‐(trifluoromethyl)benzal chloride, and the effect of fluorine substitution on the properties of these polymers is discussed in relation to the fluorine contents. High molecular weight polyacetals with reduced viscosities of 0.43–0.97 dL/g were obtained in high yields with potassium hydroxide as a base, 18‐crown 6‐ether as a catalyst, and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone as a medium at 100 °C for 3 h. Regardless of the fluorine contents, these polymers all were highly soluble in various solvents, including benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and tetrahydrofuran, and afforded colorless, transparent, and tough films by solution casting. The temperatures of 5% weight loss and 10% weight loss under nitrogen both increased significantly and monotonously with increasing fluorine content, whereas the glass‐transition temperatures were scarcely affected by fluorine substitution. The dielectric constant at 1 MHz of the bisphenol AF‐based homopolyacetal was 2.43, which was remarkably lower than the value of the bisphenol A‐based homopolyacetal, 2.68. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1873–1879, 2000     

C—H…Cl Hydrogen Bond and π-π Interaction Based Two 3D Supramolecular Architectures of Cu(II) and Co(II) Complexes with Chiral 1,2-Bis(benzimidazol-2-yl) ethane Ligand Containing 2D Grids

合成了两个新的配合物CuLCl₂•2EtOH(1) 和CoLCl₂ (2) [L是( S , S )－1,2－二N－甲基苯并咪唑－1,2－二甲氧基－乙烷],并通过单晶X衍射确定它们的结构。配合物1中,L作为三齿[N, N, O]配体,而配合物2 中,L作为二齿[N, N]配体。这两个配合物共同的结构特点都是通过分子内氢键形成2维的格子结构,然后通过分子间的C－H···Cl型氢键和π–π堆积作用形成3维结构。     

Bis(1,2‐diselenoquadratato)metallate

Bis(1,2‐diselenosquarato) Metalates A series of 1,2‐diselenosquarato metalates [M(dssq)₂]^2– (M = Pd²⁺, Pt²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, VO²⁺) was available by direct synthesis from the appropriate metal salt with dipotassium 1,2‐diselenosquarate in deoxygenized water under an argon athmosphere. The copper(II)complex, [Cu(dssq)₂]^2–, and the oxovanadium(IV)complex, [VO(dssq)₂]^2–, were identified in solution by EPR spectroscopy (parameters: [Cu(dssq)₂]^2–: g₀ = 2.073; a = –76.0 · 10^–4 cm^–1, a = 47.0 · 10^–4 cm^–1; [VO(dssq)₂]^2–: g₀ = 1.986; a = 74.9 · 10^–4 cm^–1). The complexes bis(tetraphenylphosphonium)[bis(1,2‐diselenosquarato)nickelate(II)], (Ph₄P)₂[Ni(dssq)₂], and bis(tetraphenylphosphonium)[bis(1,2‐diselenosquarato)zincate(II)], (Ph₄P)₂[Zn(dssq)₂], were characterized by X‐ray structure analysis. The square‐planar Ni^II complex (Ph₄P)₂[Ni(dssq)₂] crystallizes in the monoclinic spacegroup P2₁/n with the unit cell parameters a = 11.1472(8) Å, b = 15.331(1) Å, c = 14.783(1) Å, β = 94.441(1)° and Z = 2. The Zn^II‐complex (Ph₄P)₂[Zn(dssq)₂] is tetrahedral coordinated and crystallizes in the monoclinic spacegroup P2₁/c with the unit cell parameters a = 9.4238(1) Å, b = 18.5823(3) Å, c = 29.5309(5) Å, β = 96.763(1)° and Z = 4.