Tris[triphenylantimony(V)]hexa(μ-oxido)tellurium(VI): a molecular complex with six Te—O—Sb bridges

Abstract

In the structure of the title compound [systematic name hexa-μ-oxido-1:2κ4 O:O;1:3κ4 O:O;1:4κ4 O:O-nonaphenyl-2κ3 C,3κ3 C,4κ3 C-triantimony(V)tellurium(VI)], [Sb3Te(C6H5)9O6], the hexaoxidotellurate(VI) ion is coordinated to three SbV ions via pairs of cis-positioned O atoms to form a discrete molecular unit. The TeVI and SbV central ions exhibit distorted octahedral [TeO6] and distorted trigonal–bipyramidal [SbC3O2] coordination geometries, respectively. The linking of these polyhedra, by sharing the dioxide edges, results in the Te-based octahedron having a mer-configuration. The packing of the molecules is dominated by C—H...O hydrogen bonding and weak dispersion forces, with a minor contribution from C—H...π bonds and π–π stacking interactions. According to the Hirshfeld surface analysis, the contributions of the H...H, H...C/C...H and H...O/O...H contacts are 58.0, 32.6 and 7.8%, respectively. The title structure provides a model for the bonding of triorganoantimony dications to octahedral oxoanions, and the observed doubly bridged motifs, Te(μ-O)2Sb, may find application in the functionalization of polyoxometalate species.