Stibines (SbR3) and bismuthines (BiR3) are the heavier Group 15 analogues of the very widely studied phosphine and arsine ligands. Although they are generally regarded as weaker donor ligands, stibines and bismuthines confer a number of interesting features that are often much less evident in the lighter analogues. Developing the chemistry of these relatively little studied compounds is one of our research themes.
Our recent work on developing new organo-stibine and organo-bismuthine ligand chemistry, in collaboration with Prof. W. Levason, has revealed that these compounds, unlike their very widely studied lighter phosphine counterparts, can function simultaneously as both donors (towards metal cations) and acceptors (from adjacent Lewis bases) (Coordination Chemistry Reviews 2015, 297-298, 168; doi:10.1016/j.ccr.2015.02.003; Organometallics, 2012, 31, 1025; doi:10.1021/om2010996; Organometallics, 2011, 30, 895; doi:10.1021/om1010148).
This ‘hypercoordination’ leads to distinctly different chemical behaviours and reactivities; current work in the group is exploring the properties, reaction chemistry and the electronic structures and bonding present in these very unusual systems.
