Synthesis and structure of carbonyl-metalated organobismuth complexes

A novel class of anionic metalated organobismuth complexes of the type (Ph2Bi(M(CO)5)2)-, where M is Cr, Mo, or W, result from a reaction between Ph2BiCl and (M2(CO)10)2-. Initial reactivity studies of these complexes reveal that the lone pair present in the three-coordinate Bi atom is not reactive and cannot be used for native bond formation. The nature of the coordination sphere influences the hybridization of Bi and spectroscopic study of the (PPN)+ salts of these complexes enable their detailed structural characterization.