LIGAND EXCHANGE REACTIONS OF ANTIMONY(III) tris-(O,O-DIALKYL PHOSPHORODITHIOATES) WITH NICKEL(II) bis-(O,O-DIALKYL PHOSPHORODITHIOATES)

Abstract

In a typical ligand exchange reaction, antimony(III) tris-(O,O)-di-t-butyl phosphorodithioate) undergoes reaction with nickel(II) bis-(O,O-diisobutyl phosphorodithioate) in tetrahydrofuran solution to give nickel(II) bis-(O,O-di-t-butyl phosphorodithioate) and antimony(III) tris-(O,O-diisobutyl phosphorodithioate). In general, the ligands having the more bulky alkoxy groups end up in the nickel complex in these exchange reactions. The driving force for the ligand exchange reaction consists of the relief of steric strain which results from the transfer of bulky alkoxy groups from the sterically hindered distorted octahedral antimony complex to the much less sterically hindered square planar nickel complex.