Chemistry of Palladium and Platinum with Selenium and Tellurium Ligands

Reactions of NaER (E = Se, Te; R = Ph, substituted Ph or 2-pyridyl) with a number of mono- and bi-nuclear palladium and platinum complexes have been investigated. Complexes of the type [M(Sepy)₂], [M(ER)₂(PR₃)₂], [M₂Cl₂(μ-ER)₂(PR₃)₂] and [M₂Cl₂(μ-Cl)(μ-ER)(PR₃)₂] (M = Pd, Pt) were isolated. They were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, ⁷⁷Se, ¹²⁵Te, ¹⁹⁵Pt) data and in a few cases by X-ray diffraction studies. The [M(Sepy)₂(PPh₃)₂] dissociates into PPh₃ and [M(Sepy)(η²-Sepy)(PPh₃)] in solution. 2-Selenopyridine in its complexes acts in a monodentate (bonding through selenium) as well as in chelating (Se?N) or bridging fashion. The mononuclear complexes [M(ER)₂(PR₃)₂] are useful precursors for stepwise synthesis of cationic bi- and tri-nuclear derivatives.