The crystal and molecular structure of syn-2,11-diselena[3,3]metacyclophane and comparison with the dithia-analogue
The crystal structure of syn-2,11-diselena[3,3]metacyclophane, 1a, has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction and refined to an R-value of 0.039. The crystal structure is monoclinic with a = 1926(1), b = 801.4(3), c = 924(1) pm, β = 98.9(1)°, and is isomorphous with that of the analogous sulphur compound. The space group is P21/n with 4 molecules per cell, D(meas) = 1.733 g cm−3, D(calcd) = 1.726 g cm−3. The molecule has the syn-conformation with the largest possible Se—Se distance of 721.8 pm. The benzenoid rings form a dihedral angle of 19.1°. The distance between the internal aryl hydrogen atoms on rings 1 and 2 is 285.1 pm. The internal aryl C atoms are 314.6 pm apart. The 1Hmr solution spectra of 1a are consistent with the solid state structure, and can be explained without involving equilibration with an anti-conformer.