Bis(1 degree-amino)cyclodistib(III)azanes: the first structural characterization of cis and trans isomers of a single cyclodipnict(III)azane.

The dichlorocyclodistib(III)azane [ClSb(mu-NtBu)]2 (1) has been shown to exist as the cis isomer in the solid state. A series of bis(1 degree-amino)cyclodistib(III)azanes [R'NHSb(mu-NtBu)]2 (2, R' = tBu; 3, R' = Dipp; 4, R' = Dmp) has been prepared by the reaction of 1 with 2 equiv. of LiNHR'. On the basis of NMR solution spectra, all three derivatives are formed as a mixture of cis and trans isomers. In the case of 3, the structures of both the cis and trans isomers have been determined by X-ray crystallography; cis-3 adopts an endo, endo arrangement for the amido protons of the DippNH groups. Isomerization of trans-3 into cis-3 occurs slowly in solution. Deprotonation of 2 with 2 equiv. of nBuNa or trans-3 with nBuLi produces [Na2Sb2(mu-NtBu)4] (5) and [Li2Sb2(mu-NtBu)2(mu-NDipp)2] (6), whose solvated cubane structures were established by X-ray crystallography. In contrast, the reaction of cis-3 with 2 equiv. of nBuLi produces the tricyclic compound [Li2Sb(mu-NtBu)2(mu-NDipp)(mu-NHDipp)] (7).