[Se(CH2C(O)CH3)3][B12F11NH3]: The first selenium cation with three β-ketone substituents

The reaction of [Se8][B12F11NH3]2 with acetone and subsequent crystallization from acetone/diethyl ether yielded the selenium cation [Se(CH2C(O)CH3)3]+ as a by-product, which is stabilized by the weakly coordinating undeca­fluorinated anion [B12F11NH3]−. While attempting to crystallize pure [Se8][B12F11NH3]2, the structure of the isolated product, namely, tris­(2-oxoprop­yl)selenium 1-ammonio­undeca­fluoro­dodeca­borate, was surprising. The cation [Se(CH2C(O)CH3)3]+ represents the first example for a cationic selenium compound with three ketone functional groups located in the β-position with respect to the selenium atom. The cation possesses almost trigonal–pyramidal C3 symmetry and forms hydrogen bonds to the ammonio group of the anion.