A General Pathway for the Synthesis of Gallastibenes containing Ga=Sb Double Bonds.

Reactions of three equivalents of LGa {L=HC[C(Me)N(2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 )]2 } with SbX3 (X=F, Cl, Br, I) proceed with insertion into the Sb-X bond, elimination of LGaX2 , and formation of LGaSbGa(X)L (X=F 1, Cl 2, Br 3, I 4) containing a Ga=Sb double bond. In contrast, the 2:1 molar ratio reaction of LGa and SbCl3 initially gives the twofold insertion product [L(Cl)Ga]2 SbCl 7, which could not be isolated due to its strong tendency toward elimination of LGaCl2 and formation of distibene [L(Cl)GaSb]2 5 at 25 °C or cyclotristibine [L(Cl)GaSb]3 6 at 8 °C. The formation of 1-6 can be rationalized by formation of the Ga-substituted stibinidene L(X)GaSb as reaction intermediate.