From oxygen atom transfer by stibine oxide to hydroxo–antimony formation via Lewis acid capture

Abstract

We report an improved synthesis of the Lewis acid-stabilized stibine oxide Ph₃SbOB(C₆F₅)₃ (1) and show that it undergoes oxygen-atom transfer to PPh₃. The reaction proceeds through a discrete Ph₃Sb·B(C₆F₅)₃ Lewis pair, which we have isolated and characterized in solution, and which also mediates trace-water activation to give the hydroxo–antimony(III) adduct (2). These results reveal that suitably polarized stibine oxides can access OAT reactivity not observed in bulky analogues, broadening the chemistry of heavy p-block oxides.