Synthesis and structure of tetraphenylantimony benzoate

Tetraphenylantimony benzoate was prepared in a 90% yield by the reaction of pentaphenylantimony with triphenylantimony dibenzoate in toluene at 90 deg reesC. Thermolysis of tetraphenylantimony benzoate gives triphenylstibine a nd phenyl benzoate. According to single crystal X-ray diffraction data, the coordination polyhedron of the antimony atom in Ph4SbOC(O)Ph is a distorte d trigonal bipyramid with the oxygen atom of the benzoate substituent in th e axial position. The bond lengths (Angstrom) are as follows: Sb-O 2.243(2) , Sb-Ca 2.172(3), and Sb-C-e 2.125(4), 2.127(3), and 2.129(3). The sum of t he bond angles in the equatorial plane is 356.2(1)degrees, and the OSbCa an gle is 176.5(1)degrees.