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.