Silver(I), Copper(I) and Copper(II) Complex of the New N,Se-Chelate Ligand 2-Phenylselenomethyl-1H-benzimidazole: Electrochemistry and Structure

Abstract. 2-Phenylselenomethyl-1H-benzimidazole (psbi) can form complexes in 2:1 ratio with coinage metal ions. Crystal structure analysis revealed a flattened metal coordination for [AgI(psbi)2](BF4) (1), approaching a distorted planar arrangement with weak Ag-Se bonds (d > 2.9 A) and confirmed as energy minimum by DFT calculations. The typical Jahn-Teller system [CuII(psbi)2Cl2] (2) exhibits a planar CuN2Cl2 core with weak Se---Cu---Se axial ligation (3.2944(8) A Cu--Se distance). The oxygen-sensitive compound [CuI(psbi)2](BF4) (3) exhibits electrochemically reversible oxidation in contrast to the silver(I) analogue 1.