Synthesis, reactivity and structural studies of selenide bridged carboranyl compounds.

Reaction of the lithium salt Li[1-R-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10)] with selenium under mild conditions, followed by hydrolysis gave the diselenide compound (1-Se-2-R-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10))(2) in contrast to the well-reported mercapto compounds 1-SH-2-R-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) obtained using a similar synthetic procedure. Details for the preparation and X-ray structural characterisation of the new compounds (2-Me-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10))(2)Se, (1-Se-2-R-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10))(2) (R = Me, Ph, ) are specified. To further explore the mechanism of the dimerization reaction, the complex [Au(1-Se-2-Me-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10))(PPh(3))] was synthesized, confirming the existence of the intermedia…