Synthesis, characterization and electrochemistry of ferrocenylselenolate bridged palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes

The dimeric ferrocenyl-selenolate complexes of Pd and Pt, [{μ-η1-Fe(η5-C5H4Se)2}M(PnBu3)]2 (M = Pd 2, Pt 3), and the monomeric ferrocenyl(bis-selenolate) complex of platinum, [{η2-Fe(C5H4Se)2}Pt(PnBu3)2] (4), have been prepared from 1,1′-bis(trimethylsilylseleno)ferrocene 1 and trans-MCl2(PnBu3)2 and cis-PtCl2(PnBu3)2, respectively. Complexes 2 and 3 contain two edge-sharing, square–planar metal centres forming a planar M2Se2 four-membered ring and exhibit two one-electron redox waves indicating electronic communication between the two Fe centers.