NCN-pincer organopnictogen(III) bis(aryloxides)

Hypercoordinated monoorganopnictogen(III) bis(aryloxides) RSb((OC6H3Pr2)-Pr-i-2,6)(2) (3), RSb[OC6H3(OMe)(2)-2,6](2) (4), and RBi[OC6H3(OMe)(2)-2,6](2) (5) [R = 2,6-(Me2NCH2)(2)C6H3] were synthesized by a reaction of pnictogen(III) dichlorides [2,6-(Me2NCH2)(2)C6H3]PnCl(2) [Pn = Sb (1), Bi (2)] with 2 equiv. of the corresponding potassium aryloxides, i.e. (KOC6H3Pr2)-Pr-i-2,6 and KOC6H3(OMe)(2)-2,6, respectively. All compounds were investigated by NMR spectroscopy and APCI-MS. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies performed for 3 and 5 revealed that the organic R group acts as a pincer ligand in a distorted square pyramidal (NCN)PnO(2) core with trans intramolecular N -> Pn interactions.