The novel anion SeBr42- was prepared by dissociation of SeOBr2 with formation of SeBr2 and subsequent reaction with bromide in acetonitrile solution; it was isolated as the crystalline tetraphenylphosphonium salt. The X-ray structure analysis of [P(C6H 5)4]2SeBr4 (space group P 1̄ , a = 14.190(3), b = 15.125(3), c = 10.383(2) Å , α = 92.69(2), β = 100.89(2), γ = 92.04(2)° Å , V = 2182.2 Å3) shows the structure to contain monomeric SeBr42- anions with a square planar coordination of Se(II). The mean Se -Br bond length in the anion is 2.598 Å .[P(C6H5)4]2Se2Br6 was obtained from the reaction of SeBr4 (which is in equilibrium with SeBr2, Se2Br2, and Br2, in solution) and bromide in acetonitrile. It crystallizes in the space group P 1̄, with a = 1 0 . 9 3 3 ( 4 ) , = 11.154(4), c = 10.344(4) Å , α = 79.26(3), β = 72.63(3), y = 81.35(3)°, γ = 1176.7 Å3 (at -120 °C), and contains a novel type of centrosymmetric Se2Br62- ions with square planar Se-coordination. The mean terminal and bridging Se -Br bond lengths are 2.442 and 2.799 Å , resp. Vibrational spectra are reported and discussed.
