LAUSR

Abstract A number of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-catecholates of trialkyl- and triarylantimony(V) (3,6-DBCat)SbR3, where R is methyl (Me), n-hexyl (Hex), cyclohexyl (Cyclohex), o-tolyl (o-Tol), p-tolyl (p-Tol), p-biphenyl (p-biPh), p-fluorophenyl (p-FPh), p-chlorophenyl (p-ClPh) have been synthesized and characterized in details. The molecular structures of (3,6-DBCat)SbMe3, (3,6-DBCat)Sb(p-Tol)3 and (3,6-DBCat)Sb(p-ClPh)3·acetone were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The electrochemical properties of complexes were investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry. It was shown that the electron-acceptor substituents at the central antimony atom shift the oxidation potentials of the corresponding catecholate complexes to the anodic region while electron-donor groups make the oxidation of catecholate complexes to o-semiquinolate derivatives easier.