Complexes containing discrete In-Pn bonds (Pn = Pnictide, Sb/Bi)

The potassium indyl K[In(NONDipp)] ([NONDipp]2- = [O(SiMe2NDipp)2]2-, Dipp = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) reacts with Pn (NONtBu)Cl (Pn = pnictide = Sb, Bi) to afford complexes containing In-Pn bonds. X-ray crystallography confirms monomeric species with unsupported (discrete) In-Sb and In-Bi bonds between pyramidal pnictide atoms and distorted trigonal planar indium atoms. Computational analysis confirms that the Pn centres retain a lone-pair of electrons and show that the In-Pn covalent bond is formed from the overlap of a s-type orbital from indium with a p-type orbital from the pnictide.