Tetramethylcyclopentadienylselenium derivatives

Bis(1,2,3,4-tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)selane (1) has been prepared by the reaction of tetramethylcyclopentadienyllithium (Cp(t)Li) with selenium bis(diethyldithiocarbamate). Treatment of Cp(t)Li with elemental selenium, followed by air oxidation, led to loss of the allylic hydrogen atom, and formation of the novel tricyclic compound 1,4,5,6,7,10,11,12-octamethyltricyclo[7.3.0.0]-2,8-diselenadodeca-3,5,9,11-tetraene (2). The sulfur analogue of 2 has been obtained by a similar procedure. The X-ray crystal structures of compounds 1 and 2 have been determined, and the molecular geometry observed for has been probed using DFT calculations.