Complexes of various metal halides with thioxan and selenoxan have been prepared and characterised; compounds prepared included BF3,C4H8OS, BCl3,C4H8OS, AlCl3,C4H8OS, AlCl3,C4H8OSe, AlBr3,C4H8OS, SnX4,2C4H8OS and SnX4,2C4H8OSe (X = Cl and Br), TiCl4,2C4H8OSe, TiCl4,C4H8OSe, and NbCl5,C4H8OSe. Compounds of silicon (IV) and germanium (IV) halides, or tin(IV) iodide could not be obtained. Infrared and proton resonance spectra measurements have been made on these and analogous reported compounds to establish the mode of co-ordination. In all cases except BF3,C4H8OS (and possibly BCl3,C4H8OS) co-ordination is through sulphur or selenium rather than oxygen. The significance of the results in relation to current views on A and B (hard and soft) acceptors is discussed.
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