Molecular E(CN)3 (E=Sb, Bi) Species Synthesized from Ionic Liquids as Solvates.

The heavy pnictogen tricyanides, E(CN)3 (E=Sb, Bi), were synthesized from EF3 and Me3 SiCN in ionic liquids, for example, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([BMIm][OTf]), which prevents the oligomerization of the molecular E(CN)3 species by formation of [BMIm][E(CN)3 (OTf)] salts in solution. Recrystallization of [BMIm][E(CN)3 (OTf)] from THF led to the isolation and full characterization of the molecular species E(CN)3 ⋅2 THF.