Reactions of the spiro monoanion [{(Me2N)Sb(//-NCy)2}2Sb] with alcohols and thiols (REH; E = O or S); syntheses of nido-[Sb3-Ctt-NCy3(/f3-NCy)(ER)2] anions and the unique antimony(ni) imido cubane [(2-NC5H4O)Sb(//3-NCy)]4 (Cy= cyclohexyl)

Reactions of Sb(NMe2)3 with a mixture of CyNH2 and PrVNM (1:1:1 equivalents) afforded a simple route to M[{(Me2N)SbQ/-NCy)2}2Sb] (M = Li 1-Li or Na 1-Na), containing the spiro anion [{(Me2N)Sb(/<-NCy)2hSbr 1. The reactions of 1-Li with 'BuOH/'BuOK and with 2-HS{l-Me(imid)} (imid = imidazole) (2 equivalents) gave [K-;/6-C6H5Me][Sb30<-NCy)3(//j-NCy)(0'Bu)2] 2 and Li[Sb3(/<-NCy)3(//3-NCy)(S{2-Me(imid)})2] 3, respectively, in which the spiro structure of the precursor rearranges into a nido framework. Reaction of 1-Li with HOC5H4N-2 led to disintegration of the Sb3N6 anion core and formation of the unique antimony(in) imido cubane [(2-NC5H4O)Sb(//3-NCy)]4 4. The crystal structures of the new complexes 1-Na, 3 and 4 were determined.