Syntheses and characterization of the metal maleonitrilediselenolates [K([2.2.2]-cryptand)]2[M(Se2C2(CN)2)2] (M = Ni, Pd, Pt) and [Ni(dmf)(5)Cl]2[Ni(Se2C2(CN)2)2].

Reaction of KNH(2), K(2)Se, Se, [2.2.2]-cryptand, and a metal source yields the metal bis(maleonitrilediselenolates) [K([2.2.2]-cryptand)](2)[M(Se(2)C(2)(CN)(2))(2)] (M = Ni, 1; Pd, 2, Pt, 3). These compounds are isostructural and crystallize with four formula units in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c in cells at T = 153 K with parameters (a (A), b (A), c (A), beta (deg), V (A(3))) of 12.220(1), 15.860(2), 15.306(1), 107.64(2), 2827(1) for 1; 12.291(1), 15.669(1), 15.548(1), 108.55(1), 2839(1) for 2; and 12.292(3), 15.671(3), 15.569(3), 108.59(3), 2842(1) for 3. The cation of 1 has been substituted to yield [Ni(dmf)(5)Cl](2)[Ni(Se(2)C(2)(CN)(2))(2)] (4). [Ni(dmf)(5)Cl](2)[Ni(Se(2)C(2)(CN)(2))(2)] (4) crystallizes with one molecule in the triclinic space group P1 in a cell with parameters (T = 153 K) of a = 8.842(2) A, b =13.161(3) A, c = 13.831(3) A, alpha = 110.08(3) degrees, beta = 95.23(3) degrees, gamma = 93.72(3) degrees, V = 1484(1) A(3). The electronic absorption and infrared spectra are characteristic of metal maleonitrilediselenolates. Cyclic voltammetry shows that the maleonitrilediselenolate (mns) complexes are more easily oxidized than their maleonitriledithiolate (mnt) analogues.