The 2,2′-diindolylmethane dianion supporting scaffold for group 15 compounds

Deprotonated 2,2′-diindolylmethane functions as a dianionic chelating ligand for the isolation and characterization of the group 15 species {ArCH(3-MeC8H4N)2}PCl (2) and {ArCH(3-MeC8H4N)2}SbNMe2 (6, Ar = p-C6H4Br). The single crystal X-ray structure of 2 revealed a six-membered heterocycle featuring an N–P–N bonding motif and a terminal P–Cl function. The antimony complex 6 is a rare example of an N-heterocyclic aminostibine. DFT computations were used to examine the energies of isomers for these compounds and to describe the bonding features of the diindolyl fragment with the group 15 cation.