Bridge cleavage of [{PhP(Se)(μ-Se)}2] by 1,2-C6H4(EH)(E′H) (E, E′=O or NH). X-ray crystal structure of PhP(Se)(NHC6H4NH-1,2)

Treatment of [{PhP(Se)(μ-Se)}2] (1), the oxidation product of (PhP)5 with excess selenium, with 2-aminophenol, 1,2-phenylenediamine, catechol or 3,4-diaminotoluene leads to the rupture of the dimer giving PhP(Se)(NHC6H4O-1,2) (2), PhP(Se)(NHC6H4NH-1,2) (3), PhP(Se)(OC6H4O-1,2) (4) and PhP(Se)(NHC6H3(CH3-3)NH-1,2) (5), respectively. In the molecular structure of 3, determined crystallographically, there are two independent molecules within the unit cell which are linked by PSe⋯HN hydrogen bonds, leading to chains of dimer pairs in the solid state.