Dichlorobis[1,3-dimethyl-2(3H)-imidazoleselone]zinc(II): a potential zinc selenide synthon

The synthesis and characterization of a potential ZnSe synthon is reported. Dichlorobis[1,3-dimethyl-2(3H)-imidazoleselone] is prepared with 57% yield by direct combination of ZnCl2 and the ligand in boiling acetonitrile. X-ray crystallography shows a discrete molecular structure with a tetrahedral coordination sphere around the zinc. Thermogravimetric analysis from 50 to 600 °C indicates a 67.22% weight loss which results in a 10% higher residual mass than that expected for pure ZnSe. X-ray powder diffraction on the residue from a larger scale thermolytic decomposition experiment confirmed the presence of both hexagonal and cubic ZnSe.