Reactions of β-diketiminates with selenium and tellurium halides

The complexes [nacnacTeCl4] and nacnacSeCl+Cl− (nacnac = [{N(C6H3iPr22,6)C(Me)}2CH]−) have been prepared in good yields and characterized in the solid state by X-ray crystallography. The crystals of both compounds show C–H activation of the ligand backbone. In the case of tellurium, no LiCl displacement or nitrogen chelation is observed and an ionic TeCl4 complex is isolated. By contrast, under similar reaction conditions, the reaction with SeCl4, affords a cationic Se(II) complex with loss of four chlorines and rearrangement of the chloride atom to the nacnac ligand.