Synthesis of Some Complexes of Antimony(III) with Polyhydric Phenols, Acid Amides and Indene

Abstract

Reactions of antimony trichloride with polyhydric phenols (catechol,

resorcinol, quinol, pyrogallol and phloroglucinol) in presence of amides

(formamide, dimethylformamide and urea) leads to the formation of complexes

of the type Sb(O_nPh)₂(A)₂Cl. On treatment of these complexes with

sodium indenide in THF yields indenyl derivatives of the type

Sb(O_nPh)₂(A)₂In. These compounds on slow heating lose the amide

molecule to give complexes of the type Sb(O_nPh)₂In. The complexes have

been characterized by elemental analysis, IR and electronic spectra,

molecular weight determination, conductivity measurements and magnetic

susceptibility measurements. It is suggested that the indenyl ring is

σ-bonded to the antimony in the first two types of complexes but there

appears to be a transition between the σ-bonded and π-bonded character

of the indenyl ring in the third type. The amide molecules enter into the

coordination sphere of antimony and the polyhydric phenols behave as

monoacid ligands. (Ph is the phenolic residue, n is 2 or 3, In is the indenyl

group and THF is tetrahydrofuran.) .