Tris(dimethyldithioarsinato) complexes of group 15 metals,M(S 2 AsMe 2 ) 3 [M = (As),Sb,Bi]

Abstract

The reaction of sodium dimethyldithioarsinate dihydrate with arsenic trichloride did not afford the expected six-coordinate arsenic complex but mostly the Bunsen's cacodyl disulfide, Me₂As(S)-S-AsMe₂. However, with antimony trichloride and bismuth nitrate pentahydrate, the anhydrous tris(dimethyldithioarsinato) complexes were obtained essentially without the co-production of Bunsen's cacodyl disulfide. Both complexes did not coordinate water molecules (by IR), but hydrates were detected in CDCl₃. The antimony, but not the bismuth, complex efficiently competes with DMSO in attracting hydrate waters.