An arene-stabilized η⁵-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl antimony dication acts as a source of Sb⁺or Sb³⁺cations

Abstract

Double chloride abstraction from Cp*SbCl2 (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) affords an arene-stabilized η5-Cp*-bound antimony dicationic compound [(η5-Cp*)Sb(tol)][B(C6F5)4]2 (1) (tol = toluene), which exhibits strong Lewis acidity, abstracting chloride from Ph3CCl. 1 reacts with different Lewis bases via divergent pathways, giving rise to release of either Sb+ or Sb3+ cations.