Homolytic organometallic reactions. Bimolecular homolytic substitution by the phenylthio-radical at antimony and bismuth
Abstract
Triorgano-antimony and -bismuth compounds R3M(M = Sb or Bi, R = Me, Et, or Ph) react with benzenethiol to give the phenylthio-compounds RnM(SPh)3–n. These reactions can be initiated by di-t-butyl hyponitrite, and sometimes inhibited by galvinoxyl or phenothiazine. It is concluded that the reactions take place by a homolytic chain mechanism, where the product-forming step involves bimolecular homolytic substitution by the phenylthioradical at the metal centre.