The heterocubane [TerSnAs]4

The synthesis of a novel heterocubane [RSnE](4) was successful for E = As, while for E = P differing behaviour was observed. Aryl-substituted chlorostannylenes were treated with salts of heavy cyanate homologues PCO- and AsCO-. The reaction with AsCO- salts afforded primarily [TerSnAs](4) (Ter = 2,6-dimesitylphenyl). In contrast, the reaction of TerSnCl with NaPCO proceeded considerably less cleanly affording a mixture of products. The main product was putatively a neutral [Ter(4)Sn(4)P(4)] compound, however, it is not a cubane. A variety of by-products of this reaction could be characterised crystallographically.