Facile synthesis of bismuth(III) and antimony(III) complexes supported by silylated calix[5]arenes

A series of bismuth(III) and antimony(III) complexes supported by silicon-containing calix[5]arene ligands were synthesized and fully characterized by NMR, X-ray, IR, mp, UV/vis, and elemental analysis. Reaction of the para-tert-butylcalix[5]arene [(t)BuC5(H)(5)] disodium salt, Na(2) x (t)BuC5(H)(3), with 1 equiv of R(2)SiCl(2) (R = Me, (i)Pr, Ph, CH=CH(2)) or treatment of the (t)BuC5(H)(5) lower rim monobenzyl ether [(t)BuC5(Bn)(H)(4)] in a 1:1 ratio with Me(2)Si(NMe(2))(2) yields the (t)BuC5(SiRR')(H)(3) (1-5) and (t)BuC5(Bn)(SiMe(2))(H)(2) (6) ligands, respectively. The (1)H NMR spectra of the (t)BuC5(SiRR')(H)(3) (1-5) ligands show three pairs of doublets and three singlets for the (t)Bu peaks, consistent with a C(s) symmetry. In the case of the (t)BuC5(Bn)(SiMe(2))(H)(2) (6) ligand, the presence of the monobenzyl group changes the (1)H NMR patterns to indicate a C(1) symmetry. Treatment of (t)BuC5(SiRR')(H)(3) (1-5) or (t)BuC5(Bn)(SiMe(2))(H)(2) (6) with 1 equiv of M(O(t)Bu)(3) (M = Bi, Sb) or Sb(NMe(2))(2) readily yields metalated products of the type [M{(t)BuC5(SiRR')}] (7-16) and [MX{(t)BuC5(Bn)(SiMe(2))}] (X = O(t)Bu, (NMe(2))(2)) (17-19), respectively. All monometallic complexes [M{(t)BuC5(SiRR')}] (7-19) display excellent solubility in organic solvents including pentane and hexane. The (1)H NMR patterns for complexes 7-16 are consistent with a 1,2- or 1,3-alternate conformation while complexes [MX{(t)BuC5(Bn)(SiMe(2))}] (17-19) display patterns for a C(1) symmetry. All crystals show monomeric structures. Ligand (t)BuC5(SiPh(2))(H)(3) (3) displays a distorted cone conformation while the presence of the monobenzyl ether in (t)BuC5(Bn)(SiMe(2))(H)(2) (6) forces a partial cone conformation. Complexes 7-19 all display a distorted 1,2-alternate conformation with the metal centers displaying coordination numbers of three, four or five. No Si...M interactions were observed.