The first, discrete Zn4 tetrahedron with a selenium atom in the center: x-ray structure and solution study of [Zn4(mu4-Se)[Se2P(OPr)2]6

The first discrete, selenium-centered tetranuclear zinc cluster Zn4(mu4-Se)Se2P(OPr)2]6] was isolated and characterized. The cluster consists of six edge-bridged dsep ligands with four zinc atoms in a slightly distorted tetrahedron and a mu4-Se atom in the center. In addition, 12 mu2-bridging selenium atoms form a Se12 icosahedron. From variable-temperature 31P NMR studies, it was observed that the cluster Zn4(Se)Se2P(OPr)2]6] is partly decomposed to ZnSe2P(OPr)2]2] and the monomeric species ZnSe2P(OPr)2]2] is further in equilibrium with its dimer ZnSe2P(OPr)2]2]2.