Synthesis and structure of tetra- and triphenylbismuth arenesulfonates

Tetraphenylbismuth arenesulfonates were synthesized by the reaction of pentaphenylantimony or -bismuth with triphenylbismuth bis(arenesulfonates). Triphenylbismuth bis(arenesulfonates) were synthesized by the reaction of triphenylbismuth with arenesulfonic acids in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The crystal structures of the tetraphenylbismuth 2,5-dimethylbenzenesulfonate crystal hydrate (1), tetraphenylbismuth 3-carboxy-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonate (2), and triphenylbismuth bis(2,5-dimethylbenzenesulfonate) (3) were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The Bi atom in 1 has a tetrahedral coordination (bond angles vary from 106.6(6) to 111.9(10)degrees). The Bi coordination observed in 2 is intermediate between tetrahedral and trigonal-bipyramidal, and that in structure 3 is trigonal-bipyramidal, with the oxygen atoms in the axial positions. The Bi--O bond lengths are 2.19(2) and 2.27(2) Angstrom. In the crystal of 2, the anions form an infinite hydrogen-bonded chain.