Carboxylate Bridged Octaphenyltetra-antimony(V) ‘Cage’ Compounds;[(SbPh 2 ) 4 (µ-O) 4 (µ-OH) 2 (µ-O 2 CR) 2 ·HO 2 CR],where R = Me or t-Bu and the Crystal Structure of [(SbPh 2 ) 4 (µ-O) 4 (µ-OH)(µ-OEt)(µ-O 2 CMe) 2 ]

Abstract

Reactions of [SbPh₂BrO]₂ with carboxylates did not give [SbPh₂(O₂CR)O]₂, the expected substitution products, which are highly sensitive to hydrolysis by traces of moisture, and cage compounds containing an Sb₄O₆ unit were obtained instead. With silver acetate and sodium trimethylacetate the products were [(SbPh₂)₄(µ-O)₄(µ-OH)₂(µ-O₂CR)₂]·HO₂CR, R = Me 1 and R = t-Bu 2, respectively. An unusual compound, [(SbPh₂)₄(µ-O)₄(µ-OH)₂ (µ-O₂CMe)₂] 3, in which one of the bridging hydroxo groups in 1 is replaced by an ethoxo group, was also isolated and its crystal structure determined.