Deselenation of Overcrowded Triselenane Derivatives Containing Bismuth: Synthesis and Structure of the First Stable Dibismuthene

Abstract

Deselenation of an overcrowded triselenatribismane, 2,4,6-{2,4,6-tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl}-l,3,5-triselenatribismane, with hexamethylphosphorous triamide resulted in the formation of the first stable dibismuthene {TbtBi=BiTbt; Tbt = 2,4,6-tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl}, i. e. the doubly bonded compound consisting of the heaviest stable element in the periodic table, as deep purple crystals. X-ray crystallographic structural analysis, UV-vis and Raman spectra, and the theoretical calculations revealed the unique bonding character of the unprecedented Bi-Bi double bond.

Keywords::

• deselenation
• steric protection
• triselenatribismane
• dibismuthene
• X-ray structural analysis