Bismuth(III) dication trapped on a chlorobismuthate

Metal cations observed with tetrachloroaluminate anion provide insights into the structure and stability of reactive cations. Addition of tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate anion (Tp(Me2)) to [BiCl2][AlCl4] traps a bismuth(III) dication, [Tp(Me2)Bi](2+), possessing a highly electrophilic bismuth center with short coordinate Bi?N bonds. [Tp(Me2)Bi](2+) has weak interactions with the chlorides of [Bi3Cl13](infinity). Strong affinity of [Tp(Me2)Bi](2+) with the triflate (OTf) observed in [Tp(Me2)Bi(OTf)(3)](-) demonstrates the high electrophilicity at bismuth. [GRAPHICS] .