Unexpected Polymorphism in Bromoantimonate(III) Complexes and Its Effect on Optical Properties.

Reactions of [SbBr6]3- containing HBr solutions with bromide salts of 1,1'-(1,2-ethanediyl)bis(pyridine) (PyC22+) or 1,1'-(1,2-ethanediyl)bis(3,5-dimethylpyridine) (3,5-MePyC22+) initially result in the formation of the deep orange complexes Cat[SbBr5] (1 and 2), featuring unusual Sb···Br interactions in the solid state. In the mother liquor, 1 transforms into discrete binuclear (C2Py)2[Sb2Br10], which demonstrates polymorphism (triclinic 3 and monoclinic 4), while 2 transforms into polymeric (3,5-MePy){[SbBr4]} (5). DFT calculations reveal that the system of noncovalent Sb···Br contacts may be responsible for the appearance of the observed optical properties (unusual deep orange coloring).