Chalcogen bonding in crystalline diselenides and selenocyanates: From molecules of pharmaceutical interest to conducting materials

Organic diselenides are nowadays investigated for pharmaceutical applications, as well as in material science in molecular (semi)conductors. In both application’s domains, their interactions with Lewis bases, in solution or in the solid state, has been shown to play a crucial role in their biological activity or in their electronic structure. The current comprehensive survey of reported crystal structures of organic diselenides demonstrates the recurrent setting of intermolecular as well as intramolecular chalcogen bonding interactions (ChB) between the selenium atoms acting as ChB donors and Lewis bases. These interactions take place along the two covalent bonds of the selenium atom. In diselenides, stronger interactions are found in the prolongation of the SeSe bond than in the prolongation of the CSe bond. Charge activation of ChB is demonstrated in dicationic diselenides or in cation radical salts of 1,2-diselenole derivatives. This survey is extended to the structures of organic selenocyanates whose crystal structures reflect also the presence of two σ-holes, with a much stronger one in the prolongation of the NCSe bond. Such ChB interactions of selenocyanates with polytopic Lewis bases or with halide anions open novel strategies in crystal engineering and anion recognition strategies.