Highly conducting, mixed-valence, multi-component nickel
bis(diselenolene) salts were obtained by electrocrystallization
of the monoanionic species [Ni(Me-thiazds)2]−1 (Me-thiazds: N-methyl-1,3-thiazoline-2-thione-4,5-diselenolate),
with 1:2 and 1:3 stoichiometries depending of the counter ion used
(Et4N+ and nBu4N+
vs Ph4P+, respectively).
This behavior strongly differs from that of the corresponding monoanionic dithiolene complexes whose oxidation afforded the single
component neutral species. This provides additional rare examples
of mixed-valence conducting salts of nickel diselenolene complexes,
only known in two examples with the dsit (1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-diselenolate)
and dsise (1,3-dithiole-2-selone-4,5-diselenolate) ligands. The mixed-valence
salts form highly dimerized or trimerized bi- and trimetallic units,
rarely seen with such nickel complexes. Transport measurements under
a high pressure (up to 10 GPa) and band structure calculations confirm
the semiconducting character of [Ph4P][Ni(Me-thiazds)2]3 and the quasi metallic character
of [Et4N][Ni(Me-thiazds)2]2 and [NBu4]
x
[Ni(Me-thiazds)2]2 salts (0 < x < 1).