What is "arsabenzene"

n. (context organic compound English) (synonym of arsinine English)

Arsabenzene ( IUPAC name: arsinine) is an organoarsenic heterocyclic compound with the chemical formula CHAs. It belongs to a group of compounds called heteroarenes that have the general formula CHE (E= N, P, As, Sb, Bi).

This air sensitive liquid has an onion odor, and it decomposes on heating. Arsabenzene is also an ambidentate ligand, and it prefers to coordinate using η(As)- or η-routes.

The study of arsabenzene and related compounds was an important step in the understanding of compounds that contain multiple bonds between carbon and heavier elements.

The study of heteroarenes was begun by Märkl, with the synthesis of 2,4,6-triphenylphosphabenzene. This is achieved by treating 2,4,6-trisubstituted pyrylium salt with phosphanes. The first derivative of arsabenzene was 9-arsaanthracene prepared by Jutzi and Bickelhaupt.