An arene-stabilized η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl antimony dication acts as a source of Sb+ or Sb3+ cations

Abstract

Double chloride abstraction from Cp*SbCl₂ (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) affords an arene-stabilized η⁵-Cp*-bound antimony dicationic compound [(η⁵-Cp*)Sb(tol)][B(C₆F₅)₄]₂ (1) (tol = toluene), which exhibits strong Lewis acidity, abstracting chloride from Ph₃CCl. 1 reacts with different Lewis bases via divergent pathways, giving rise to release of either Sb⁺ or Sb³⁺ cations.