Facile access to zinc and cadmium selones: highly active catalysts for Barbier reactions in aqueous media.

The syntheses and structures of five mononuclear zinc and cadmium selone complexes along with a polynuclear cadmium selone 1D chain were described. The mononuclear homoleptic zinc selone complexes were the first examples of structurally characterized zinc(ii) selone complexes. The spectral properties of the zinc and cadmium selone derivatives were investigated. Interesting structural diversity, coordination geometry, and variable chemical and thermal stability were observed for these zinc and cadmium selone compounds. Besides this, the first metal selone mediated Barbier coupling was reported. These catalysts were highly active for Barbier coupling reactions in aqueous alcohol media. In addition, the scope of the catalytic reactions was further explored with eleven different aldehydes.