Syntheses and structures of bis(azido)- and bis(tert-butoxy)cyclodistibazanes

Synthesis of a Molecule with Five Different Adjacent Pnictogens

The first molecular compound with all five pnictogens was obtained by a multi-step reaction. Lithiation of the (bisamido)diazadiarsetidine (tBuNAs)2 (tBuNH)2 in aliphatic solvents leads to the dimeric metallated species [(tBuNAs)2 (tBuNLi)2 ]2 (12 ). Upon reactions with AsCl3 , SbCl3 and BiCl3 the polycyclic compounds [(tBuNAs)2 (tBuN)2 ]PnCl (Pn=As (2), Sb (3), Bi (4)) can be obtained. Conversion of 2-4 with [tBu2 SbP(tBu)Li(OEt2 )]2 leads to the remarkable interpnictogens [(tBuNAs)2 (tBuN)2 ]PnP(tBu)SbtBu2 (Pn=As (5), Sb (6), Bi (7)), whereby 7 is the first example of a molecule containing all five Group 15 elements. The compound with adjacent AsNBiPSb-chains is surprisingly stable and does not show high sensibility against light as the labile Bi-P bond might suggest.

Insights into the formation of inorganic heterocycles via cyclocondensation of primary amines with group 15 and 16 halides

The cyclocondensation reaction of primary amines with pnictogen and chalcogen halides is a major preparative route for the generation of inorganic heterocycles involving a Group 15 or 16 element linked to nitrogen.

Chemistry of pnictogen(iii)–nitrogen ring systems

This critical review covers significant recent advances in the chemistry of pnictogen(III)-nitrogen ring systems, also known as cyclopnict(III)azanes. The synthetic methodologies and reactions of the heavier pnictogen systems are compared with the well-developed chemistry of cyclophosph(III)azanes. Particular attention is focused on ring-oligomerization processes and the use of four-membered E(2)N(2) rings as building blocks for the synthesis of macrocyclic molecules. Main-group element and transition-metal complexes are also discussed (95 references).

Bis(1°-amino)cyclodistib(III)azanes: the First Structural Characterization of cis and trans Isomers of a Single Cyclodipnict(III)azane

The dichlorocyclodistib(III)azane [ClSb(mu-NtBu)]2 (1) has been shown to exist as the cis isomer in the solid state. A series of bis(1 degree-amino)cyclodistib(III)azanes [R'NHSb(mu-NtBu)]2 (2, R' = tBu; 3, R' = Dipp; 4, R' = Dmp) has been prepared by the reaction of 1 with 2 equiv. of LiNHR'. On the basis of NMR solution spectra, all three derivatives are formed as a mixture of cis and trans isomers. In the case of 3, the structures of both the cis and trans isomers have been determined by X-ray crystallography; cis-3 adopts an endo, endo arrangement for the amido protons of the DippNH groups. Isomerization of trans-3 into cis-3 occurs slowly in solution. Deprotonation of 2 with 2 equiv. of nBuNa or trans-3 with nBuLi produces [Na2Sb2(mu-NtBu)4] (5) and [Li2Sb2(mu-NtBu)2(mu-NDipp)2] (6), whose solvated cubane structures were established by X-ray crystallography. In contrast, the reaction of cis-3 with 2 equiv. of nBuLi produces the tricyclic compound [Li2Sb(mu-NtBu)2(mu-NDipp)(mu-NHDipp)] (7).

Dissociation of 2,4-Bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-cyclo-1,3-dipnicta-2,4-diazanes (pnict = P, As, Sb) Imposed by Substituent Steric Strain: A Cyclobutane/Olefin Analogy

Three 2,4-bis(Mes)-cyclo-1,3-dipnicta-2,4-diazanes, 2PnX, have been synthesized as 1,3-dichloro- (Pn = As; X = Cl) or 1,3-bis(triflato)- (Pn = P, Sb; X = OTf) derivatives (Mes = 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl; OTf = triflato = trifluoromethanesulfonoxy). The compounds have been structurally characterized as cyclodimers, but spectroscopic characterization of melts and solutions indicates facile dissociation of the diphosphadiazane 2POTf derivative to give the corresponding iminophosphine 1POTf and of the diarsadiazane 2AsCl derivative to give the corresponding iminoarsine 1AsCl. 1,3-Bis(triflato)-2,4-bis(Mes)-cyclo-1,3-distiba-2,4-diazane (2SbOTf) does not dissociate in the melt or in solution. The presence of the sterically bulky Mes substituent does not preclude association of N-Pn olefin analogues to give single bonded cyclobutane analogues. The facile dissociation of 2POTf and isolation of 1POTf implicates a relatively high degree of substituent steric strain in the dimer. In comparison, dissociation of 2AsCl is only apparent in the melt and in solution, likely the result of the lower substituent strain in the larger N(2)As(2) framework. The largest N(2)Pn(2) framework in 2SbOTf provides sufficient space for the Mes substituents, and the monomer is not observed under the conditions examined.

Identification of new N-Sb topologies: understanding the sequential dehydrochloride coupling of primary amines and trichloropnictines

Subtle steric strain imposed by 2,6-dimethylphenyl substituents on N-Sb frameworks has enabled identification of the first acyclic dipnictadiazane and the first six-membered cyclotristibatriazane providing insight into the dehydrohalide coupling reaction of amines with halopnictines.

Synthesis of cyclo-2,4,6-Triarsa-1,3,5-triazanes from cyclo-2,4-Diarsa-1,3-diazanes Demonstrating the General Influence of Substituent Steric Strain on the Relative Stability of Pnictazane Oligomers

2,4-Dichloro-1,3-diaryl-cyclo-2,4-diarsa-1,3-diazanes (aryl = 2,6-dimethylphenyl, Dmp, or 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, Dipp) have been transformed into the corresponding 2,4,6-trichloro-cyclo-2,4,6-triarsa-1,3,5-triazanes on reaction with GaCl(3) followed by 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP). The nitrogen bound Dmp and Dipp substituents impose "medium" substituent steric strain on the heterocycles influencing the relative thermodynamic stability of potential oligomers in favor of the trimers. This ring expansion disproportionation reaction is initiated by chloride ion abstraction, and the intermediate 2,4-dichloro-1,3,5-tris(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-cyclo-2,4-diarsa-1,3,5-triazane-6-arsenium tetrachlorogallate has been isolated and structurally characterized. Subsequent reaction with 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) effects release of chloride ion from the gallate anion and consequential formation of a covalent As-Cl bond in the trimer. The observations are analogous to those for the phosphorus derivatives demonstrating a general applicability of this new synthetic procedure for the development and diversification of cyclopnictazane chemistry.

Synthetic and Structural Studies of Cyclodistib(V)azanes

High-yielding syntheses of complexes based around the cyclodistibazane (Sb(2)N(2)) core are described from the reaction of organoantimony(V) chlorides with varying stoichiometric amounts of lithiated primary amines, LiN(H)R. Thus, mixing Ph(3)SbCl(2) with 2 equiv of LiN(H)R (R = CH(2)Ph) produces Ph(3)Sb(mu-NR)(2)SbPh(3) (1). Mixed amido/imido complexes of formula {R(H)N}Ph(2)Sb(mu-NR)(2)SbPh(2){N(H)R} (2) (R = CH(2)Ph, 2-OMe-5-(t)()Bu-C(6)H(3), and Cy) are made from the corresponding 3:1 molar ratio combination of LiN(H)R with Ph(2)SbCl(3). A similar reaction employing only 2 equiv of LiN(H)R (R = CH(2)Ph) with 1 equiv of Ph(2)SbCl(3) yields ClPh(2)Sb(mu-NR)(2)SbPh(2)Cl (3). Compounds 2a-c and 3 possess reactive functionality which may make them useful synthetic reagents in the preparation of more complex main group imido architectures. All of the complexes have been characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis (CHN), and X-ray crystallography. An investigation of all known crystallographically characterized Sb-N fragments from the Cambridge Structural Database highlights a series of parameters that appear to influence the observed Sb-N bond lengths.

The relative stabilities of PhE(NH-t-Bu)2 and PhE(μ-N-t-Bu)2EPh (E = As, Sb, and Bi): X-ray structures of {Li2[PhAs(N-t-Bu)2]}2 and PhE(μ-N-t-Bu)2EPh (E = Sb, Bi)

The reaction of PhECl2 with 2 equiv of LiHN-t-Bu has been studied for the series E = As, Sb, and Bi to determine the effect of the phenyl group on subsequent amine condensation processes. For PhAsCl2, the metathesis product PhAs(NH-t-Bu)2 4 was obtained as a colourless oil. Similar reactions involving PhECl2, where E = Sb or Bi, yielded the cyclodipnict(III)azanes PhE(μ-N-t-Bu)2EPh 5 (E = Sb) and 6 (E = Bi), respectively. Treatment of 4 with 2 equiv of n-BuLi produced the dilithium salt Li2[PhAs(N-t-Bu)2] 7a. Products 4, 5, 6, and 7a were characterized by 1H, 7Li (7a), and 13C NMR spectra, while 5, 6, and 7a were also structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Compound 7a is dimeric in the solid state via intermolecular Li···N and η6-Li···Ph interactions. The cyclodipnict(III)azanes 5 and 6 have similar structures, with the exocyclic phenyl groups in trans positions relative to the E2N2 ring. This synthetic approach provides a new route to the four-membered rings RE(μ-N-t-Bu)2ER (E = Sb, Bi) and the first example of a bis(organyl)cyclodibism(III)azane.Key words: arsenic, antimony, bismuth, amides, imides.