Preparation and X-Ray Crystal-Structure of 4,4'-Triselenobis(pent-3-en-2-one)

Abstract

The title compound was prepared by the reaction of sodium hydrogen selenide with 4-chloropent-3-en-2-one. The compound appears unstable with respect to higher oligomers of the SeC (CH₃)CHC(CH₃)O ( seacac ) unit. X-ray crystallography reveals the unusual structure in which a central 'complexed' selenium atom is coordinated to the two selenium atoms of the seacac ligands which are in their normal cis conformations. The oxygen atoms are uncoordinated and as far removed from the coordination environment of the central selenium atom as possible. Crystals of Se( seacac )₂ are orthorhombic with space group P2₁2₁2, and cell dimension a 9.761(2), b 14.828(3) and c 4.6447(5)Ǻ.