Sb(III)-Compounds

The unusual antimony chemistry is typically dominated by the s² ion, which determines the crystal structure. We have recently synthesized numerous compounds containing the novel cluster molecule Sb₁₂O₁₈, consisting of tetrahedrally arranged Sb₃O₃ rings. A particularly attractive example is the compound Sb₁₂O₁₈La₄Cl₁₂, in which these isolated molecular units are connected to each other by means of ionic LaCl₃ chains. In other compounds, dimers, layers or networks of the cluster are formed, while this molecule is exceptionally isolated in the hybrid compound La₄Sb₁₂O₁₈Cl₁₇•5C₆H₁₄NO₂.