Coordination of cyclo-octasulfur and cyclo-heptaselenium to dinuclear rhenium(I) systems

By substitution reactions of the coordinated THF ligands of Re(2)(mu-X)(2)(CO)(6)(THF)(2) by elemental chalcogens (S(8) and red selenium), the complexes Re(2)(mu-X)(2)(CO)(6)(S(8)) (X = Br, 1; I, 2), and Re(2)(mu-X)(2)(CO)(6)(Se(7)), (X = I, 3; Br, 4) have been prepared. Binuclear compound 3 was crystallographically established to be a coordination compound of cyclo-heptaselenium, two adjacent selenium atoms of the Se(7) ligand [Se-Se distance, 2.558(3) A] being bonded to rhenium(I), at an average Re-Se distance of 2.586(3) A, and the nonbonding Re.Re distance being 4.077(3) A. Spectroscopic evidence of the existence of these chalcogen complexes in solution is reported. The Re(2)(mu-X)(2)(CO)(6)(S(8)) complexes undergo S(8) displacement by THF, while the coordinated Se(7) moiety is less readily displaced from 3.