23.10.2023 Pnictogen atoms as building blocks for molecular cages!

In Triptycenes, three phenylene units (= C₆H₄) are conneted to each other through two bridgehead atoms to give cage molecules of the type HC(C₆H₄)₃CH. We have installed different pnictogen atoms in the bridgehead positions, resulting in the series of hetero-triptycenes Bi(C₆H₄)₃Pn (Pn = P, As, Sb, Bi). This allowed for the first time to study the influence of these combinations of bridgehead atoms on the structure,  Lewis-basicity, and additional ligand properties of these molecules. This contribution has just been accepted for publication in Inorg. Chem. - congratulations to all the contributors!