Triphenylstibine
Triphenylstibine is the chemical compound with the formula Sb3, which is often abbreviated SbPh3, This colourless solid is a common organoantimony compound. It serves as a ligand in coordination chemistry and as a reagent in organic synthesis.
Like the related molecules triphenylamine, triphenylphosphine and triphenylarsine, SbPh3 is pyramidal with a propeller-like arrangement of the phenyl groups. The Sb-C distances average 2.14-2.17 Å and the C-Sb-C angles are 95°.
Synthesis and reactions
Triphenylstibine was first reported in 1886, being prepared from antimony trichloride and chlorobenzene:In an alternative method, phenylmagnesium bromide is treated with SbCl3.
Upon treatment with antimony trichloride, triphenylstibine undergoes a redistribution reaction:
Stiboranes can be synthesised from triphenylstibine by halogenation:
As confirmed by X-ray crystallography, features pentacoordinate Sb with trans-diaxial chloride ligands.