Ni23Se12(PEt3)13. An intramolecular intergrowth of NiSe and Ni

The reaction of Ni(super 0) with triethylphosphine selenide was examined. It was shown that Ni(COD)2 (COD = cyclooctadiene) reacts with Et3PSe at elevated temperature to give a mixture of Ni3Se2 and Ni, that the two combine at lower temperature to give the cluster compound Ni23Se12(PEt3)13, and that this compound gives a similar mixture of Ni3Se2 and Ni on heating. The structure of the cluster is a molecular example of an intergrowth of NiSe and Ni.