Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the solvation of phosphorus(V) selenides, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, and tris(dimethylamino)phosphine telluride by sulfur dioxide
31P and 77Se nmr spectra have been measured for a range of phosphorus(V) selenides, diphosphorus(V) diselenides, and triphosphorus(V) triselenides in the inert solvent CH2Cl2 and in liquid SO2. Significant roughly-correlated reductions in |1J(PSe)| and deshielding of the 77Se resonance accompany change of solvent from CH2Cl2 to SO2. These changes are shown to arise from 1:1 phosphorus(V) selenide:SO2 donor:acceptor complex formation. Approximate thermodynamic constants for the formation of the complexes have been determined and possible structures for the 1:1 complexes with the diphosphorus(V) diselenides discussed. It is shown from 1H and 31P nmr spectral changes that Ph2P(CH2)2PPh2 forms a 1:1 complex with SO2, and approximate thermodynamic data for the SO2 complexation of the diphosphine have been established. Complexation is indicated by changes in both |1J(PTe)| and δP when (Me2N)3PTe is dissolved in SO2, but the chemical reactivity of this system precluded detailed study.