PLATINUM METAL-COMPLEXES OF POTENTIALLY CHELATING ALKENE-THIOETHER AND ALKENE-SELENOETHER LIGANDS - SYNTHESIS OF THE TRIMERIC COMPLEXES [RHCL(E(CH2CH2CH=CH2)2)]3 (E = S, SE) AND THE CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF [RHCL(SE(CH2CH2CH=CH2)2)]3

Reaction of [{RhCl(C2H4)2}2] with E(CH2CH2CH = CH2)2 (E = S, Se) affords the trimeric complexes [RhCl{E(CH2CH2CH = CH2)2}]3. The structure of the product with E = Se was established by X-ray diffraction. The coordination sphere at each rhodium atom consists of a distorted trigonal bipyramid with two alkene groups from the same selenoether in equatorial positions, one bridging selenium in the third equatorial position and the other in an axial site with a terminal chloride in the other axial site. One- and two-dimensional NMR studies of the compounds suggest that the solid state structure is retained in solution.