Gold and silver derivatives with the carborane-selenolate ligand [B10H11C2Se]–

The carborane-selenol [(B10H11C2)SeH] has been isolated and its anion employed as a ligand. Reaction of the ligand with [AuClL](L = PPh3, AsPh3)(1 :1 molar ratio) or PPN[AuCl2] (PPN = N(PPh3)2) (2 :1 molar ratio) affords the mononuclear compounds [Au(SeC2B10H11)L] or PPN[Au (SeC2B10H11)2], respectively. Dinuclear derivatives [Au2(SeC2B10H11)2(µ-PP)](PP = 1,1ʹ-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf), 1,2-bis (diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe)) are synthesised by reaction of the ligand with [Au2Cl2(µ-PP)] or by reaction of [Au(SeC2B10H11)(AsPh3)] with the bidentate ligand. The selenolate acts in a bridging mode in [M2(µ-SeC2B10H11)(PPh3)2]X2(M = Au, X = ClO4; M = Ag, X = TfO), obtained by treatment of the ligand with [O{Au(PPh3)}3]ClO4 or by reaction with [Ag(TfO)(PPh3)] in 1 :2 molar ratio, respectively. The crystal structure of [Au(SeC2B10H11)(PPh3)] has been determined by X-ray diffraction studies.