Triple-decker complexes incorporating three distinct deck architectures.

The reactivity of the dilithioplumbole ([Li 2 (thf) 2 (μ,η 5 -L Pb )], L Pb = 1,4-bis- tert -butyl-dimethylsilyl-2,3-bis-phenyl-plumbolyl) towards the reactive pnictogen precursors P 4 , pentaphosphaferrocene, and pentaarsaferrocene ([Cp*Fe(η 5 -E 5 )] (Cp* = η 5 -C 5 Me 5 , E = P, As)) is reported. The reaction with P 4 afforded a phospholyl lithium complex, via lead-phosphorus exchange, while the reactions with [Cp*Fe(η 5 -E 5 )] yielded the first examples of Pb-Fe-Li heterotrimetallic triple-decker polypnictogenides with three different deck motifs.