Utilisation of a lithium boryl as a reducing agent in low oxidation state group 15 chemistry: synthesis and characterisation of an amido-distibene and a boryl-dibismuthene.

The first examples of an amido-distibene, L(†)Sb[double bond, length as m-dash]SbL(†) (L(†) = -N(Ar(†))(SiPr(i)3), Ar(†) = C6H2{C(H)Ph2}2Pr(i)-2,6,4), and a boryl dibismuthene, {(DAB)B}Bi[double bond, length as m-dash]Bi{B(DAB)} (DAB = {(C6H3Pr(i)2-2,6)NCH}2, have been prepared by reaction of a lithium boryl complex, (THF)2LiB(DAB), with extremely bulky amido-group 15 dihalide precursor compounds. In these reactions, the lithium boryl acts as a boryl transfer reagent and/or a strong reducing agent.