Ortho-Substituent Effects on Halogen Bond Geometry for N-Haloimide⋯2-Substituted Pyridine Complexes.

The nature of (imide)N-X⋯N(pyridine) halogen-bonded complexes formed by six N-haloimides and sixteen 2-substituted pyridines are studied using X-ray crystallography (68 crystal structures), Density Functional Theory (DFT) (86 complexation energies), and NMR spectroscopy (90 association constants). Strong halogen bond (XB) donors such as N-iodosuccinimide form only 1:1 haloimide:pyridine crystalline complexes, but even stronger N-iodosaccharin forms 1:1 haloimide:pyridine and three other distinct complexes. In 1:1 haloimide:pyridine crystalline complexes, the haloimide's N─X bond exhibits an unusual bond bending feature that is larger for stronger N-haloimides. DFT complexation energies (ΔEXB ) for iodoimide-pyridine complexes range from -44 to -99 kJ mol-1 , while for N-bromoimide-pyridine, they are between -31 and -77 kJ mol-1 . The ΔEXB of I⋯N XBs in 1:1 iodosaccharin:pyridine complexes are the largest of their kind, but they are substantially smaller than those in [bis(saccharinato)iodine(I)]pyridinium salts (-576 kJ mol-1 ), formed by N-iodosaccharin and pyridines. The NMR association constants and ΔEXB energies of 1:1 haloimide:pyridine complexes do not correlate as these complexes in solution are heavily influenced by secondary interactions, which DFT studies do not account for. Association constants follow the σ-hole strengths of N-haloimides, which agree with DFT and crystallography data. The haloimide:2-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine complex undergoes a halogenation reaction resulting in 5-iodo-2-dimethylaminopyridine.

The Impact of ortho-substituents on Bonding in Silver(I) and Halogen(I) Complexes of 2-Mono- and 2,6-Disubstituted Pyridines: An In-Depth Experimental and Theoretical Study.

The coordination nature of 2-mono- and 2,6-disubstituted pyridines with electron-withdrawing halogen and electron-donating methyl groups for [N-X-N]+ (X=I, Br) complexations have been studied using 15 N NMR, X-ray crystallography, and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. The 15 N NMR chemical shifts reveal iodine(I) and bromine(I) prefer to form complexes with 2-substituted pyridines and only 2,6-dimethylpyridine. The crystalline halogen(I) complexes of 2-substituted pyridines were characterized by using X-ray diffraction analysis, but 2,6-dihalopyridines were unable to form stable crystalline halogen(I) complexes due to the lower nucleophilicity of the pyridinic nitrogen. In contrast, the halogen(I) complexes of 2,6-dimethylpyridine, which has a more basic nitrogen, are characterized by X-crystallography, which complements the 15 N NMR studies. DFT calculations reveal that the bond energies for iodine(I) complexes vary between -291 and -351 kJ mol-1 and for bromine between -370 and -427 kJ mol-1 . The bond energies of halogen(I) complexes of 2-halopyridines with more nucleophilic nitrogen are 66-76 kJ mol-1 larger than those of analogous 2,6-dihalopyridines with less nucleophilic nitrogen. The experimental and DFT results show that the electronic influence of ortho-halogen substituents on pyridinic nitrogen leads to a completely different preference for the coordination bonding of halogen(I) ions, providing new insights into bonding in halogen(I) chemistry.

Formation, Characterization, and Bonding of cis- and trans-[PtCl2{Te(CH2)6}2], cis-trans-[Pt3Cl6{Te(CH2)6}4], and cis-trans-[Pt4Cl8{Te(CH2)6}4]: Experimental and DFT Study.

[PtCl2{Te(CH2)6}2] (1) was synthesized from the cyclic telluroether Te(CH2)6 and cis-[PtCl2(NCPh)2] in dichloromethane at room temperature under the exclusion of light. The crystal structure determination showed that in the solid state, 1 crystallizes as yellow plate-like crystals of the cis-isomer 1cis and the orange-red interwoven needles of 1trans. The crystals could be separated under the microscope. NMR experiments showed that upon dissolution of the crystals of 1cis in CDCl3, it isomerizes and forms a dynamic equilibrium with the trans-isomer 1trans that becomes the predominant species. Small amounts of cis-trans-[Pt3Cl6{Te(CH2)6}4] (2) and cis-trans-[Pt4Cl8{Te(CH2)6}4] (3) were also formed and structurally characterized. Both compounds show rare bridging telluroether ligands and two different platinum coordination environments, one exhibiting a cis-Cl/cis-Te(CH2)6 arrangement and the other a trans-Cl/trans-Te(CH2)6 arrangement. Complex 2 has an open structure with two terminal and two bridging telluroether ligands, whereas complex 3 has a cyclic structure with four Te(CH2)6 bridging ligands. The bonding and formation of the complexes have been discussed through the use of DFT calculations combined with QTAIM analysis. The recrystallization of the mixture of the 1:1 reaction from d6-DMSO afforded [PtCl2{S(O)(CD3)2}{Te(CH2)6}] (4) that could also be characterized both structurally and spectroscopically.

N-X⋠⋠⋠O-N Halogen Bonds in Complexes of N-Haloimides and Pyridine-N-oxides: A Large Data Set Study.

N-X⋅⋅⋅- O-N+ halogen-bonded systems formed by 27 pyridine N-oxides (PyNOs) as halogen-bond (XB) acceptors and two N-halosuccinimides, two N-halophthalimides, and two N-halosaccharins as XB donors are studied in silico, in solution, and in the solid state. This large set of data (132 DFT optimized structures, 75 crystal structures, and 168 1 H NMR titrations) provides a unique view to structural and bonding properties. In the computational part, a simple electrostatic model (SiElMo) for predicting XB energies using only the properties of halogen donors and oxygen acceptors is developed. The SiElMo energies are in perfect accord with energies calculated from XB complexes optimized with two high-level DFT approaches. Data from in silico bond energies and single-crystal X-ray structures correlate; however, data from solution do not. The polydentate bonding characteristic of the PyNOs' oxygen atom in solution, as revealed by solid-state structures, is attributed to the lack of correlation between DFT/solid-state and solution data. XB strength is only slightly affected by the PyNO oxygen properties [(atomic charge (Q), ionization energy (Is,min ) and local negative minima (Vs,min )], as the σ-hole (Vs,max ) of the donor halogen is the key determinant leading to the sequence N-halosaccharin>N-halosuccinimide>N-halophthalimide on the XB strength.

Computational thermochemistry: extension of Benson group additivity approach to organoboron compounds and reliable predictions of their thermochemical properties.

High-level computational data for standard gas phase enthalpies of formation, entropies, and heat capacities are reported for 116 compounds of boron. A comparison of the results with extant experimental and computational benchmark values reveals important trends and clear outliers. Recommendations are made to revise some of the key quantities, such as the enthalpies of formation of orthoboric acid, trimethylthioborate, and triphenylborane, the last of which is found to be considerably in error. The uncertainties associated with the experimental values are found to exceed those of high-level calculations by a clear margin, prompting the redetermination of Benson group additivity contributions for boron-based groups on purely computational grounds. The applicability of the established group contribution values is demonstrated by estimating thermochemical data for large organoboron compounds that cannot be treated with high-level quantum chemical methods and comparing the results with existing experimental and computational values.

Experimental and computational investigation on the formation pathway of [RuCl2(CO)2(ERR')2] (E = S, Se, Te; R, R' = Me, Ph) from [RuCl2(CO)3]2 and ERR'.

The pathways to the formation of the series of [RuCl2(CO)2(ERR')2] (E = S, Se, Te; R, R' = Me, Ph) complexes from [RuCl2(CO)3]2 and ERR' have been explored experimentally in THF and CH2Cl2, and computationally by PBE0-D3/def2-TZVP calculations. The end-products and some reaction intermediates have been isolated and identified by NMR spectroscopy, and their crystal structures have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The relative stabilities of the [RuCl2(CO)2(ERR')2] isomers follow the order cct > ccc > tcc > ttt ≈ ctc (the terms c/t refer to cis/trans arrangement of the ligands in the order of Cl, CO, and ERR'). The yields were rather similar in both solvents, but the reactions were significantly faster in THF than in CH2Cl2. The highest yields were observed for the telluroether complexes, and the yields decreased with lighter chalcogenoethers. PBE0-D3/def2-TZVP calculations indicated that the reaction path is independent of the nature of the solvent. The substitution of one CO ligand of the intermediate [RuCl2(CO)3(ERR')] by the second ERR' shows the highest activation barrier and is the rate-determining step in all reactions. The observed faster reaction rate in THF than in CH2Cl2 upon reflux can therefore be explained by the higher boiling point of THF. At room temperature the reactions in both solvents proceed equally slowly. When the reaction is carried out in THF, the formation of [RuCl2(CO)3(THF)] is also observed, and the reaction may proceed with the substitution of THF by ERR'. The formation of the THF complex, however, is not necessary for the dissociation of the [RuCl2(CO)3]2. Thermal energy at room temperature is sufficient to cleave one of the bridging Ru-Cl bonds. The intermediate thus formed undergoes a facile reaction with ERR'. This mechanism is viable also in non-coordinating CH2Cl2.

High-Level Ab Initio Predictions of Thermochemical Properties of Organosilicon Species: Critical Evaluation of Experimental Data and a Reliable Benchmark Database for Extending Group Additivity Approaches.

A high-level composite quantum chemical method, W1X-1, is used herein to calculate the gas-phase standard enthalpy of formation, entropy, and heat capacity of 159 organosilicon compounds. The results set a new benchmark in the field that allows, for the first time, an in-depth assessment of existing experimental data on standard enthalpies of formation, enabling the identification of important trends and possible outliers. The calculated thermochemical data are used to determine Benson group additivity contributions for 60 Benson groups and group pairs involving silicon. These values allow fast and accurate estimation of thermochemical parameters of organosilicon compounds of varying complexity, and the data acquired are used to assess the reliability of experimental work of Voronkov et al. that has been repeatedly criticized by Becerra and Walsh. Recent results from other computational investigations in the field are also carefully discussed through the prism of reported advancements.

Studies of Nature of Uncommon Bifurcated I-I···(I-M) Metal-Involving Noncovalent Interaction in Palladium(II) and Platinum(II) Isocyanide Cocrystals.

Two isostructural trans-[MI2(CNXyl)2]·I2 (M = Pd or Pt; CNXyl = 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide) metallopolymeric cocrystals containing uncommon bifurcated iodine···(metal-iodide) contact were obtained. In addition to classical halogen bonding, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a rare type of metal-involved stabilizing contact in both cocrystals. The nature of the noncovalent contact was studied computationally (via DFT, electrostatic surface potential, electron localization function, quantum theory of atoms in molecules, and noncovalent interactions plot methods). Studies confirmed that the I···I halogen bond is the strongest noncovalent interaction in the systems, followed by weaker I···M interaction. The electrophilic and nucleophilic nature of atoms participating in I···M interaction was studied with ED/ESP minima analysis. In trans-[PtI2(CNXyl)2]·I2 cocrystal, Pt atoms act as weak nucleophiles in I···Pt interaction. In the case of trans-[PdI2(CNXyl)2]·I2 cocrystal, electrophilic/nucleophilic roles of Pd and I are not clear, and thus the quasimetallophilic nature of the I···Pd interaction was suggested.

Chalcogen-Bonding Interactions in Telluroether Heterocycles [Te(CH2 )m ]n (n=1-4; m=3-7).

Invited for the cover of this issue are the groups of Risto Laitinen at University of Oulu and Wolfgang Weigand at Friedrich Schiller University Jena. The image depicts a picturesque view of the Te⋅⋅⋅Te close contacts forming infinite tubular shafts in 1,9,17,25-Te4 (CH2 )28 . The cover artwork was designed and created by Marko Rodewald. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202002510.

Chalcogen-Bonding Interactions in Telluroether Heterocycles [Te(CH2 )m ]n (n=1-4; m=3-7).

The Te⋅⋅⋅Te secondary bonding interactions (SBIs) in solid cyclic telluroethers were explored by preparing and structurally characterizing a series of [Te(CH2 )m ]n (n=1-4; m=3-7) species. The SBIs in 1,7-Te2 (CH2 )10 , 1,8-Te2 (CH2 )12 , 1,5,9-Te3 (CH2 )9 , 1,8,15-Te3 (CH2 )18 , 1,7,13,19-Te4 (CH2 )20 , 1,8,15,22-Te4 (CH2 )24 and 1,9,17,25-Te4 (CH2 )28 lead to tubular packing of the molecules, as has been observed previously for related thio- and selenoether rings. The nature of the intermolecular interactions was explored by solid-state PBE0-D3/pob-TZVP calculations involving periodic boundary conditions. The molecular packing in 1,7,13,19-Te4 (CH2 )20 , 1,8,15,22-Te4 (CH2 )24 and 1,9,17,25-Te4 (CH2 )28 forms infinite shafts. The electron densities at bond critical points indicate a narrow range of Te⋅⋅⋅Te bond orders of 0.12-0.14. The formation of the shafts can be rationalized by frontier orbital overlap and charge transfer.

Strong N-X⋠⋠⋠O-N Halogen Bonds: A Comprehensive Study on N-Halosaccharin Pyridine N-Oxide Complexes.

A study of the strong N-X⋅⋅⋅- O-N+ (X=I, Br) halogen bonding interactions reports 2×27 donor×acceptor complexes of N-halosaccharins and pyridine N-oxides (PyNO). DFT calculations were used to investigate the X⋅⋅⋅O halogen bond (XB) interaction energies in 54 complexes. A simplified computationally fast electrostatic model was developed for predicting the X⋅⋅⋅O XBs. The XB interaction energies vary from -47.5 to -120.3 kJ mol-1 ; the strongest N-I⋅⋅⋅- O-N+ XBs approaching those of 3-center-4-electron [N-I-N]+ halogen-bonded systems (ca. 160 kJ mol-1 ). 1 H NMR association constants (KXB ) determined in CDCl3 and [D6 ]acetone vary from 2.0×100 to >108 m-1 and correlate well with the calculated donor×acceptor complexation enthalpies found between -38.4 and -77.5 kJ mol-1 . In X-ray crystal structures, the N-iodosaccharin-PyNO complexes manifest short interaction ratios (RXB ) between 0.65-0.67 for the N-I⋅⋅⋅- O-N+ halogen bond.

Boron-nitrogen substituted dihydroindeno[1,2-b]fluorene derivatives as acceptors in organic solar cells.

The electrophilic borylation of 2,5-diarylpyrazines results in the formation of boron-nitrogen doped dihydroindeno[1,2-b]fluorene which can be synthesized using standard Schlenk techniques and worked up and handled readily under atmospheric conditions. Through transmetallation via diarylzinc reagents a series of derivatives were synthesized which show broad visible to near-IR light absorption profiles that highlight the versatility of this BN substituted core for use in optoelectronic devices. The synthesis is efficient, scalable and allows for tuning through changes in substituents on the planar heterocyclic core and at boron. Exploratory evaluation in organic solar cell devices as non-fullerene acceptors gave power conversion efficiencies of 2%.

Titanocene Selenide Sulfides Revisited: Formation, Stabilities, and NMR Spectroscopic Properties.

[TiCp2S5] (phase A), [TiCp2Se5] (phase F), and five solid solutions of mixed titanocene selenide sulfides [TiCp2SexS5-x] (Cp = C5H5-) with the initial Se:S ranging from 1:4 to 4:1 (phases B⁻E) were prepared by reduction of elemental sulfur or selenium or their mixtures by lithium triethylhydridoborate in thf followed by the treatment with titanocene dichloride [TiCp2Cl2]. Their 77Se and 13C NMR spectra were recorded from the CS2 solution. The definite assignment of the 77Se NMR spectra was based on the PBE0/def2-TZVPP calculations of the 77Se chemical shifts and is supported by 13C NMR spectra of the samples. The following complexes in varying ratios were identified in the CS2 solutions of the phases B⁻E: [TiCp2Se5] (51), [TiCp2Se4S] (41), [TiCp2Se3S2] (31), [TiCp2SSe3S] (36), [TiCp2SSe2S2] (25), [TiCp2SSeS3] (12), and [TiCp2S5] (01). The disorder scheme in the chalcogen atom positions of the phases B⁻E observed upon crystal structure determinations is consistent with the spectral assignment. The enthalpies of formation calculated for all twenty [TiCp2SexS5-x] (x = 0⁻5) at DLPNO-CCSD(T)/CBS level including corrections for core-valence correlation and scalar relativistic, as well as spin-orbit coupling contributions indicated that within a given chemical composition, the isomers of most favourable enthalpy of formation were those, which were observed by 77Se and 13C NMR spectroscopy.

Benson group additivity values of phosphines and phosphine oxides: Fast and accurate computational thermochemistry of organophosphorus species.

Composite quantum chemical methods W1X-1 and CBS-QB3 are used to calculate the gas phase standard enthalpy of formation, entropy, and heat capacity of 38 phosphines and phosphine oxides for which reliable experimental thermochemical information is limited or simply nonexistent. For alkyl phosphines and phosphine oxides, the W1X-1, and CBS-QB3 results are mutually consistent and in excellent agreement with available G3X values and empirical data. In the case of aryl-substituted species, different computational methods show more variation, with G3X enthalpies being furthest from experimental values. The calculated thermochemical data are subsequently used to determine Benson group additivity contributions for 24 Benson groups and group pairs involving phosphorus, thereby allowing fast and accurate estimations of thermochemical data of many organophosphorus compounds of any complexity. Such data are indispensable, for example, in chemical process design or estimating potential hazards of new chemical compounds. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Divergent reactivity of nucleophilic 1-bora-7a-azaindenide anions.

The reactions of 1-bora-7a-azaindenide anions, prepared in moderate to excellent yields by reduction of the appropriate 1-bora-7a-azaindenyl chlorides with KC8 in THF, with alkyl halides and carbon dioxide were studied. With alkyl halides (CH2Cl2, CH3I and BrCH(D)CH(D)tBu), the anions behave as boron anions, alkylating the boron centre via a classic SN2 mechanism. This was established with DFT methods and via experiments utilizing the neo-hexyl stereoprobe BrCH(D)CH(D)tBu. These reactions were in part driven by a re-aromatization of the six membered pyridyl ring upon formation of the product. Conversely, in the reaction of the 1-bora-7a-azaindenide anions with CO2, a novel carboxylation of the C-2 carbon alpha to boron was observed. Computations indicated that while carboxylation of the boron centre was kinetically feasible, the products of B-carboxylation were not thermodynamically favored relative to the observed C-2 carboxylated species, which were formed preferably due to the generation of both C-C and B-O bonds. In these products, the pyridyl ring remains non-aromatic, in part accounting for the observed reversibility of carboxylation.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties of Weakly Coordinating Anions Based on tris-Perfluoro-tert-Butoxyborane.

A convenient method for the preparation of strongly Lewis acidic tris-perfluoro-tert-butoxyborane B(ORF)3 (1), (ORF = OC(CF3)3) was developed, and its X-ray structure was determined. 1 was used as a precursor, guided by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and volume-based thermodynamics, for the synthesis of [NEt4][NCB(ORF)3] (3) and [NMe4][FB(ORF)3] (5) and the novel large and weakly coordinating anion salts [Li 15-Crown-5][B(ORF)4] (2) and [NEt4][CN{B(ORF)3}2] (4). The stability of [B(ORF)4]- was compared with that of some related known weakly coordinating anions by appropriate DFT calculations.

Synthesis, characterization, and ligand behaviour of a new ditelluroether (C10H7)Te(CH2)4Te(C10H7) and the concurrently formed ionic [(C10H7)Te(CH2)4]Br.

The reaction of 1-naphthyl bromide with n-butyl lithium, elemental tellurium, and 1,4-dibromobutane in THF affords both (C10H7)Te(CH2)4Te(C10H7) (1) and [(C10H7)Te(CH2)4]Br (2) in good yields. 1 is preferentially formed at low temperatures and is a rare example of a structurally characterized ditelluroether in which the tellurium atoms are bridged by a hydrocarbon chain. In the solid state, 1 shows secondary bonding TeTe interactions, which connect the molecules into layers which are further linked to 3-dimensional frameworks by TeH hydrogen bonds. [(C10H7)Te(CH2)4]Br (2) is formed concurrently during the synthesis of 1 and is the main product, when the reaction is carried out at room temperature. The revPBE/def2-TZVPP calculations of the reaction profiles indicate that the formation of 2 is somewhat more favourable than that of 1. Furthermore, at room temperature the activation energy for the formation of 2 is lower than that of 1. At low temperatures the activation energy of the reaction leading to 1 is lower than that to 2, which is consistent with the synthetic observations. When 1 was treated with CuBr, [Cu2(µ-Br)2{µ-(C10H7)Te(CH2)4Te(C10H7)}2] (3) was formed. It crystallizes as two polymorphs (3a) and (3b) in which both the packing and the conformation of the ditelluroether ligands are different. The reaction of 1 with HgCl2 produces [(C10H7)Te(CH2)4]2[HgCl4]·CH2Cl2 (4·CH2Cl2) and that of 1 with CuCl2 affords [(C10H7)Te(CH2)4]Cl (5). 2 and 5 are isomorphous.

Absorption of SO2(g) by TDAE[O2SSO2](s) to Give TDAE[O2SS(O)2SO2](s): Related Reactions of [NR4]2[O2SSO2](s) (R = CH3, C2H5).

One mole equivalent of gaseous SO2 is absorbed by purple TDAE[O2SSO2](s), producing red, essentially spectroscopically pure TDAE[O2SS(O)2SO2](s); under prolonged evacuation, the product loses SO2(g), regenerating TDAE[O2SSO2](s). Similarly, [NR4]2[O2SS(O)2SO2](s) (R = Et, Me) can be prepared, albeit at lower purity, from the corresponding tetraalkylammonium dithionites (prepared by a modification of the known [NEt4]2[O2SSO2](s) preparation). While the [NEt4](+) salt is stable at rt; the [NMe4](+) salt has only limited stability at -78 °C. Vibrational spectra assignments for the anion in these salts were distinctly different from those for the anion in salts containing the long-known [O3SSSO3](2-) dianion, the most thermodynamically stable form of [S3O6](2-) (we prepared TDAE[O3SSSO3]·H2O(s) and obtained its structure by X-ray diffraction and vibrational analyses). The best fit between the calculated ((B3PW91/6-311+G(3df) and PBE0/6-311G(d)) and experimental vibrational spectra were obtained with the dianion having the [O2SS(O)2SO2](2-) structure. Vibrational analyses of the three [O2SS(O)2SO2](2-) salts prepared in this work showed that the corresponding [O3SSO2](2-) salts were present as a ubiquitous decomposition product. The formation of these new [O2SS(O)2SO2](2-) dianion salts was predicted to be favorable for [NMe4](+) and larger cations using a combination of theoretical calculations (B3PW91/6-311+G(3df)) and volume based thermodynamics (VBT). Similar methods accounted for the greater stabilities of the TDAE(2+) and [NEt4](+) salts of [O2SS(O)2SO2](2-) compared to [NMe4]2[O2SS(O)2SO2](s) toward irreversible decomposition to the corresponding [O3SSO2](2-) salts. These salts represent the first known examples of a new class of poly(sulfur dioxide) dianion, [SO2]n(2-) in which n > 2.

The role of imidoselenium(II) chlorides in the formation of cyclic selenium imides via cyclocondensation.

The third member of the series of imidoselenium(II) chlorides ClSe[N(tBu)Se]nCl (n = 3) (9) has been isolated from the cyclocondensation reaction of tBuNH2 and SeCl2 in THF in a molar ratio of ca. 3:1 and characterized in the form of two polymorphs 9a and 9b by single crystal X-ray analysis. The unusual structural features of this nine-atom chain are explained satisfactorily in terms of a bonding model that invokes intra-molecular secondary bonding interactions and hyperconjugation. The reaction of the bifunctional reagent ClSe[N(tBu)Se]2Cl (8) with tBuNH2 in THF occurs via concurrent pathways to give 1,3,5-Se3(NtBu)3 (1) and 1,3-Se3(NtBu)2 (3a). The energetics of the reactions of tBuNH2 and SeCl2 in THF have been calculated at the PBE0/def2-TZVPP level of theory in order to assess the feasibility of ClSe[N(tBu)Se]nCl (7­9, n = 1­3) as intermediates in the formation of known cyclic selenium imides. DFT calculations were also employed to explore the energy profile of the pathway of the formation of the first member of the series ClSeN(tBu)SeCl (7) from tBuNH2 and SeCl2 in THF at 298 K. The neutral ligand ClSeN(tBu)SeCl (7) is Se,Se'-coordinated to the metal centre in the unusual adduct [PdCl2{Se,Se'-(SeCl)2N(tBu)}]·[PdCl2{Se,Se'-Se4(NtBu)3}]·MeCN (10·MeCN), which is the first metal complex of an imidoselenium(II) chloride.