Inorganic salts of cyanuric acid (HOCN) have played a significant role in the development of modern chemistry and are involved in important processes including the synthesis of thiourea and the heat treatment of steel. Whereas the chemistry of cyanate (OCN)⁻ and thiocyanate (SCN)⁻ salts is well developed and commonly used in industry, the chemistry of their heavier chalcogen homologue, selenocyanate (SeCN)⁻, remains underexplored. Currently, there are only a few reported binary transition metal selenocyanates. One previous report included IR and ESR characterization of a Mn[SeCN]₂[L]_n series, but no further analyses nor crystal structures have been reported. Thus, in the present research, a series of metal(II) selenocyanate compounds, M[SeCN]₂[L]_n (M = Mn, Fe, Co; L = THF, MeCN; n = 0, 1.8, 2, and 4) and A₂[Mn(SeCN)₄] (A = K), have been synthesized and characterized. The products were characterized by powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Additionally, M[SeCN]₂[THF]_n (M = Mn, Fe, Co; n = 2 and 4) and A₂[Mn(SeCN)₄] (A = K) were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. These compounds may serve as new material for organic solar cells or LEDs, or as selenocyanate transfer reagents.

Grace DeCostanza

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