Reaction of [Ni(CH3CO)(2)]4H(2)O, H2PdCl4 or H2PtCl6 with HN[P(Se)Ph-2
](2) in water/acetone gave the title compounds in good yield. The comp
ounds were characterised by IR/Raman, NMR and X-ray crystallography. T
he square planar metal centres form parts of spiro pseudo-boat rings.
The X-ray structures allow comparison of the radii of Pt and Pd atoms.
(C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.