Multiply bridged organodiantimony(V) compounds; crystal structures of [(SbR2)(2)(mu-O)(2)(mu-O2AsMe2)(2)] (R=Ph or p-tolyl) and [(SbR3)(2)(mu-O)(mu-O2MR'(2))(2)] (R=Ph, M=P, R'=Me; R=Ph, M=As, R'=Me or Ph; R=p-tolyl, M=P, R'=Me)

A number of quadruply and triply bridged organodiantimony(v) compounds have been synthesized by reactions of [(SbR2BrO)(2)] (R = Ph or p-tolyl) and [(SbR3X)(2)O] (R = Ph or p-tolyl, X = Br or Cl) with Na(O2AsMe2), Na(O2AsPh2) or Na(O2AsMe2). The compounds have been characterised by a range of spectroscopic methods and crystal structures are reported for two quadruply bridged, [(SbPh2)(2)(mu-O)(2)(mu-O2AsMe2)(2)] and [{Sb(p-MeC6H4)(2)}(2)(mu-O)(2)(mu-O2AsMe2)(2)], and four triply bridged compounds, [(SbPh3)(2)(mu-O)(mu-O2PMe2)(2)], [(SbPh3)(2)-(mu-O)(mu-O2AsMe2)(2)], [(SbPh3)(2)(mu-O)(mu-O2AsPh2)(2)] and {[Sb(p-MeC6H4)(3)}(2)(mu-O)(mu-O2PMe2)(2)]. Related trimethylantimony(v) compounds, i.e. [{SbMe3(O2PMe2)}(2)O] and [{SbMe3(O2AsPh2)}(2)O], which are highly moisture sensitive, have also been obtained.