Syntheses and characterization of the metal maleonitrilediselenolates [K([2.2.2]-cryptand)](2)[M(Se2C2(CN)(2))(2)] (M = Ni, Pd, Pt) and [Ni(dmf)(5)Cl](2)[Ni(Se2C2(CN)(2))(2)]

Reaction of KNH2, K2Se, Se, [2.2.2]-cryptand, and a metal source yields the metal bis(maleonitrilediselenolates) [K([2.2.2]-cryptand)](2)[M(Se2C2(CN)( 2))(2)] (M = Ni, 1; Pd, 2, Pt, 3). These compounds are isostructural and cr ystallize with four formula units in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c in cells at T = 153 K with parameters (a (Angstrom), b (Angstrom), c (Angstrom ), beta (deg), V (Angstrom (3))) Of 12.220(1), 15.860(2), 15.306(1), 107.64 (2), 2827(1) for 1; 12.291(1), 15.669(1), 15.548(1), 108.55(1), 2839(1) for 2, and 12.292(3), 15.671(3), 15.569(3), 108.59(3), 2842(1) for 3. The cati on of 1 has been substituted to yield [Ni(dmf)(5)Cl](2)[Ni(Se2C(CN)(2))(2)] (4) [Ni(dmf)(5)Cl](2)[Ni(Se2C2(CN)(2))(2)] (4) crystallizes with one molec ule in the triclinic space group P (1) over bar in a cell with parameters ( T = 153 K) of a = 8.842(2) Angstrom, b = 13.161(3) Angstrom, c = 13.831(3) Angstrom, alpha = 110.08(3)degrees, beta = 95.23(3)degrees, gamma = 93.72(3 )degrees, V = 1484(1) Angstrom (3). The electronic absorption and infrared spectra are characteristic of metal maleonitrilediselenolates. Cyclic volta mmetry shows that the maleonitrilediselenolate (mns) complexes are more eas ily oxidized than their maleonitriledithiolate (mnt) analogues.