The interaction of 2-arsa- and 2-stiba-1,3-dionato lithium complexes with Group 8-12 metal halides

The reactivity of a range of 2-arsa- and 2-stiba-dionato lithium complexes, [{(solv)Li{E[C(O)R](2)}}(2)], E = As or Sb, R = alkyl or aryl, toward a va riety of Group 8-12 transition metal complexes has been examined. The heter odionate ligands in the generated complexes have displayed a variety of coo rdination modes which in many cases have been confirmed by X-ray crystallog raphic studies. Modes that were encountered were eta (1)-As or Sb in [(C5Me 5)Fe(CO)(2-) {As[C(O)Ph](2)}], trans-[PtCl(PEt3)(2){As[C(O)Ph](2)}] and tra ns-[ PtCl( PEt3)(2) {Sb[C(O)(C2H2Me3-2,4,6)](2)}]; eta (2)-O,O in [M{As[C(O ) Bu-t](2)}(2) (DME)] M = Fe or Co and [RuCl2 (PPh3)(2) {As[C(O)Bu-t](2)}]; eta (1)-As : eta (1)-O : eta (2)-CO in [RuCl(PPh3)(2) {As[C(O)Bu-t](2)}] a nd eta (1)-As : eta (2)-O, O in [Zn{As[ C( O) Bu-t](2) [LiCl(DME)]}(2)]. Th e syntheses of a number of related complexes are reported, as is the prepar ation and structural characterisation of the tetraacyldiarsane, [As{C(O)Ph} (2)](2).