The use of selenium(IV) chloride for the preparation of diarylselenium dichlorides

Two new synthetic routes for the preparation of diarylselenium dichlorides are reported both of which use selenium(IV) chloride as a starting meterial. In the first method, bis(p-methóxyphenyl) and bis(p-ethoxyphenyl)-selenium dichlorides are prepared by the reaction of SeCl₄ with anisole and phenetole respectively. In the second, diphenylselenium dichloride is prepared by the reaction of SeCl₄ with tetraphenyllead, a reaction in which the lead—carbon bond is cleaved.The far infrared and Raman spectra of the diarylselenium dichlorides are reported.