Preparation and properties of dibismuthines

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om50006a027

Tetramethyldibismuthine, 1, tetraisopropenyldibismuthine, 15, 1,1′-bibismolane, 16, and tetrakis(2-methyl-1-propenyl)dibismuthine, 17, have been prepared from the reaction of the corresponding tertiary bismuthines with sodium in liquid ammonia followed by treatment with 1,2-dichloroethane. Tetraphenyldibismuthine, 4, was prepared by an analogous route from diphenylbismuth chloride. While all the dibismuthines are red in solution, 1, 15, and 16 freeze to blue solids. Compounds 4 and 17 form red solids. The Raman, UV, and mass spectra of the dibismuthines are discussed. The dibismuthines thermally decompose to form bismuth metal and corresponding tertiary bismuthine. The reactions of tetramethyldibismuthine with iodine, bromotrichloromethane, benzyl bromide, hydrochloric acid, and butyllithium have been explored. The reactions afford products in which the Bi-Bi bond has been cleaved.