Synthesis and properties of the transition metal complexes of a tritertiary stibine, 1,1,1-tris((diphenylstibino)methyl)ethane. Structure of fac-[Mo(CO)(3){MeC(CH(2)SbPh(2))(3)}]

The tritertiary stibine MeC(CH(2)SbPh(2))(3) (tts) reacted with [M(CO)(6)] (M = Cr, Mo, W) in ethanol in the presence of NaBH4 to form fac-[M(CO)(3)(tts)], which were characterized by analysis, IR spectroscopy, and H-1 and C-13{H-1} NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structure of the Mo derivative has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and shown to be the fac isomer (Sb-Mo 2.7263(5)-2.7462(5) Angstrom). The complexes [Pd(tts)Cl-2] and [Pt(tts)-Cl-2] in which the tts coordinates as a bidentate ligand, and fac-[Rh(tts)Cl-3] and [Cu(tts)-(MeCN)]PF6 in which it is tridentate, were also prepared and characterized spectroscopically. These complexes are the first examples reported containing a tritertiary stibine ligand.