Recent advances in the coordination chemistry of diselenophosphates and allied ligands

This review describes the coordination chemistry of selenium containing ligands, namely, diselenophosphates [(RO)2PSe2, dsep], diselenophosphonates [(R)(RO)PSe2, dsepo], diselenophosphinates [R2PSe2, dsepi], and triselenophosphonates [RPSe32, tsepo] with ‘PSe2’ and ‘PSe3’ functional groups. The coordination compounds of alkali metals, d-block elements, and p-block elements are discussed with respect to their formation and structural chemistry. These compounds are diverse ranging from mononuclear, dinuclear, and multinuclear complexes, to polymers. The important spectroscopic observations, bonding properties, substitution reactions, characteristics such as bond lability, the PSe bond cleavage, co-crystallization, Se⋯Se interactions, oxophilicity, photophysical behavior, and metal selenide nanomaterial are also highlighted. The description of work is group by group and within a given metal, coordination compounds, if any, of all the ligands under purview are described. The literature survey is up to January 2006 and the review represents the first article in this area of research and should contribute considerable value for future research.