The anionic 10-Bi-4 species (2a, 2b) were synthesized by the reaction of BiCl3 with 2 equiv of lithium 2-(2-lithiophenyl)-2-propoxide derivatives (1a, 1b). The X-ray crystallographic analysis showed 2a-Et4N+ to be distorted pseudotrigonal bipyramid in geometry. Reaction of dimethyl-substituted 2b-Li+ with methyl iodide took place exclusively not at the bismuth but at the oxygen to give an ether 4.