Synthesis of molecular lead–pnictogen compounds including [Pb4(SbSiiPr3)6], the first structurally characterised compound with a lead–antimony bond

Abstract

The first structurally characterised lead(II) antimony compound with a chemical bond between lead and antimony, [Pb(4)(SbSiiPr(3))(6)] (3), was obtained by the reaction of iPr(3)SiSb-(SiMe(3))(2) with PbCl(2) in Et(2)O at 0 degrees C. The Pb(4)Sb(6) cage structure can be described as a Pb(4)Sb(4) heterocube where two SbSiiPr(3) edges are replaced by (SbSiiPr(3))(2). The average Pb-Sb bond length is 297.7 pm. The heterocubane compounds [PbESi-tBu(2)Ph](4) (E = P, As) were obtained from the reactions of Pb{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2) with tBu(2)PhSiEH(2).