Tri-m-tolylantimony dibenzoate: Synthesis and structure

Tri-m-tolylantimony dibenzoate (II) has been synthesized by the reaction between tri-m-tolylantimony (I) and benzoic acid in diethyl ether in the presence of tert-butylhydroperoxide with a yield of 95%. According to X-ray diffraction data, a molecule of compound I is shaped as a trigonal pyramid with a lone pair on the antimony atom (Sb-C, 2.146(3), 2.148(3), and 2.152(3) Å; CSbC, 96.49(11)°, 96.91(11)°, and 97.28(11)°). An antimony atom in compound II has a distorted trigonal bipyramidal coordination to the oxygen atoms in axial positions. The Sb-C and Sb-O distances are 2.107(3)–2.121(3) Å and 2.134(2), 2.140(2) Å, respectively. The OSbO and CSbC angles are 175.68(9)° and 108.02(14)°–140.36(15)°, respectively. The Sb…O intramolecular contacts are 2.869(4) and 2.925(4) Å.