The reactions of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)platinum and -palladium with selenium: X-Ray crystal structure of [Pt(Se2CH2)(PPh3)2]

Treatment of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)platinum with elemental selenium (red or vitreous) in toluene solution under reflux yields an insoluble solid. This dissolves in dichloromethane with reaction, eventually to form a 1 : 1 mixture of [PtCl2(PPh3)2] and the new compound [Pt(Se2CH2)(PPh3)2], which has been characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Under the same conditions, tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium yields only decomposition products. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.