Reactions of Ph4Se4Br4 with tertiary phosphines. Structural isomerism within a series of R3PSe(Ph)Br compounds.

The synthesis and characterisation of Ph(4)Se(4)Br(4) (1) directly from the reaction of Ph(2)Se(2) with dibromine is reported. The solid-state structure of 1 consists of four PhSeBr units linked by weak selenium-selenium bonds [3.004(2)-3.051(2) A] into a Se(4) square, and is structurally analogous to the previously reported Ph(4)Te(4)I(4). The reactions of Ph(4)Se(4)Br(4) with a variety of tertiary phosphines have been undertaken, resulting in the formation of compounds of formula R(3)PSe(Ph)Br. X-Ray crystallographic analysis of three of the compounds reveals different structural isomers. Ph(3)PSe(Ph)Br (2) is a charge-transfer (CT) compound [Se-Br 3.0020(8) A], with an essentially linear P-Se-Br bond angle, 172.15(4) degrees and T-shaped geometry at selenium. Me(3)PSe(Ph)Br (5) also contains the selenium atom in a T-shaped geometry, consistent with a CT formulation, although the Se-Br distance of 3.327(3) A is considerably longer than observed for 2. In contrast, Cy(3)PSe(Ph)Br (6) is an ionic phosphonium salt, [Cy(3)PSePh]Br with no short Se-Br interactions. Geometry at selenium is bent, as expected for an ionic compound. These results are discussed with reference to the previously reported iodo-compounds Ph(3)PSe(Ph)I and [(Me(2)N)(3)PSe(Ph)]I.