Synthesis and structure of tetra- and tri- p-tolylantimony benzoates

Tetra- p-tolylantimony (I) benzoate has been obtained by interaction of penta- p- tolylantimony with benzoic acid or dibenzoate tri- p-tolylantimony in toluene. Tri- p- tolylantimony (II) dibenzoate has been synthesized by the oxidative addition reaction of tri- p-tolylantimony and benzoic acid in ether, in the presence of tret-butyl hydroperoxide. X-ray diffraction analysis of I and II has shown that the coordination of antimony atoms is trigonal-bipyramidal with the oxygen atom of the carboxyl groups in the axial positions, and intramolecular contacts between the carbonyl oxygen atoms and the central atom are present.