The preparation and structure of Mo2(OAc)2(SSiMe3)2(PEt3)2

Recent advances in the self-assembly of polynuclear metal–selenium and –tellurium compounds from 14–16 reagents

The use of reagents containing bonds between group 14 elements and Se or Te for the self-assembly of polynuclear metal–chalcogen compounds is covered. Background material is briefly reviewed and examples from the literature are highlighted from the period 2007–2017. Emphasis is placed on the different classes of 14–16 precursors and their application in the targeted synthesis of metal–chalcogen compounds. The unique properties arising from the combination of specific 14–16 precursors, metal atoms, and ancillary ligands are also described. Selected examples are chosen to underline the progress in (i) controlled synthesis of heterometallic (ternary) chalcogen clusters, (ii) chalcogen clusters with organic functionalized surfaces, and (iii) crystalline open-framework metal chalcogenides.

Synthesis and characterization of potassium aryl- and alkyl-substituted silylchalcogenolate ligands

Treatment of either triphenyl(chloro)silane or tert-butyldiphenyl(chloro)silane with potassium metal in THF, followed by addition of 18-crown-6, affords [K(18-crown-6)][SiPh3] () and [K(18-crown-6)][SiPh2(t)Bu] (), respectively, as the reaction products in high yield. Compounds and were fully characterized including by multi-nuclear NMR, UV/vis and IR spectroscopies. Addition of elemental chalcogen to either or , results in facile chalcogen insertion into the potassium-silicon bond to afford the silylchalcogenolates, [K(18-crown-6)][E-SiPh2R] (E = S, R = Ph (); E = Se, R = Ph (); E = Te, R = Ph (); E = S, R = (t)Bu (); E = Se, R = (t)Bu (); E = Te, R = (t)Bu ()), in moderate to good yield. The silylchalcogenolates reported herein were characterized by multi-nuclear NMR, UV/vis and IR spectroscopies, and their solid-state molecular structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Importantly, the reported compounds crystallize as discrete monomers in the solid-state, a structural feature not previously observed in silylchalcogenolates, providing well-defined access routes into systematic metal complexation studies.