A triplet stibinidene

Abstract

•Free stibinidene has a one-coordinate Sb atom with a Sb–C single bond •Free stibinidene features a triplet ground state and high thermal stability •Free stibinidene exhibits versatile reactivities Pnictinidenes (R-E, where E = P, As, Sb, or Bi) are long-sought-after reactive species. They feature either a singlet or triplet ground state depending on the electronic property of the substituents. Because of their highly reactive nature, the isolation of triplet pnictinidenes under standard laboratory conditions remains a challenge task. Herein, we report the isolation, characterization, and reactivity studies of a free stibinidene supported by a hydrindacene ligand. X-ray crystallographic analysis shows that it contains a one-coordinate antimony atom featuring a Sb–C single bond. Magnetometric investigations, in conjunction with highly correlated wavefunction-based ab initio calculations, unequivocally demonstrate that the stibinidene features a triplet electronic ground state. Pnictinidenes (R-E, where E = P, As, Sb, or Bi) are long-sought-after reactive species. They feature either a singlet or triplet ground state depending on the electronic property of the substituents. Because of their highly reactive nature, the isolation of triplet pnictinidenes under standard laboratory conditions remains a challenge task. Herein, we report the isolation, characterization, and reactivity studies of a free stibinidene supported by a hydrindacene ligand. X-ray crystallographic analysis shows that it contains a one-coordinate antimony atom featuring a Sb–C single bond. Magnetometric investigations, in conjunction with highly correlated wavefunction-based ab initio calculations, unequivocally demonstrate that the stibinidene features a triplet electronic ground state.