Reduction of [Cp*Sb]4 with Subvalent Main-Group Metal Reductants: Syntheses and Structures of [(L1 Mg)4 (Sb4 )] and [(L2 Ga)2 (Sb4 )] Containing Edge-Missing Sb4 Units.

[Cp*Sb]4 (Cp*=C5 Me5 ) reacts with [L1 Mg]2 and L2 Ga with formation of [(L1 Mg)4 (μ4 ,η1:2:2:2 -Sb4 )] (L1 =iPr2 NC[N(2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 )]2 , 1) and [(L2 Ga)2 (μ,η2:2 -Sb4 )] (L2 =HC[C(Me)N(2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 )]2 , 2). The cleavage of the Sb-Sb and Sb-C bonds in [Cp*Sb]4 are the crucial steps in both reactions. The formation of 1 occurred by elimination of the Cp* anion and formation of Cp*MgL1 , while 2 was formed by reductive elimination of Cp*2 and oxidative addition of L2 Ga to the Sb4 unit. 1 and 2 were characterized by heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and their bonding situation was studied by quantum chemical calculations.