Bis- and tris(2-seleno-1-methylimidazolyl)hydroborato complexes, {[BseMe]ZnX}2 (X = Cl, I), [BseMe]2Zn and [TseMe]Re(CO)3:: Structural evidence that the [BseMe] ligand is not merely a heavier version of the sulfur counterpart, [BmMe]

New bidentate and tridentate ligands that feature selenium donors, namely the bis- and tris(2-seleno-1-methylimidazolyl)hydroborato ligands [Bse(Me)] and [Tse(Me)], have been constructed via the reaction of MBH4 (M = Na, K) with 1-methylimidazole-2-selone. Comparison of the structure of {[Bse(Me)]ZnI}(2), with its sulfur counterpart, [Bm(Me)]ZnI, demonstrates that the seleno ligand exhibits a greater tendency than the mercapto ligand to bridge two metal centers, while comparison of [Tse(Me)]Re(CO)(3) and [Tse(Mes)]Re(CO)(3) indicates that the [Tse(Me)] ligand is more electron donating and less sterically demanding than the [Tse(Me)] ligand.