Synthesis and crystal structures of tellurium complexes containing imidophosphinate ligands

Abstract

The synthesis of TeL₂ complexes for a variety of imidophosphinate ligands [R₂(E)PNP(E)R′₂]⁻ (E = S or Se) is described. The crystal structures of five examples are reported. Generally the complexes adopt square planar geometries but in one case [R = Et, R′ = OPh] two-coordinate geometry is observed. It appears that electronic effects are more important in controlling geometry than steric effects. Two examples of five-coordinate TeL(C₆H₄OCH₃)Cl₂ complexes have also been prepared and structurally characterised.