Carbene Complexes of Pnictogen Pentafluorides and Boron Trifluoride

 Synthesis, characterization, and solid state X-ray crystallographic structures for 12-Pn-6 complexes derived from carbene 4,5-dichloro-1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene and phosphorus, arsenic, or antimony pentafluoride are reported. The adducts show octahedral geometries at the pnictogen centers with C-Pn bond distances of 189.8 (P), 199.9 (As), and 217.5 (Sb) pm. The structures are those of internal zwitterions with imidazolium ion character in the heterocyclic ring and a pentafluoropnictanide anion bonded to C2. Adducts of BF3 with 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene and 4,5-dichloro-1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene are also reported for comparison. Although the reactivity of chlorinated and non-chlorinated carbenes varies considerably, the spectroscopic and structural properties of analogous adducts are remarkably similar.