Preparation of Pyridine(Diimine) Bismuth Cations and Demonstration of Versatile Lewis Acid Activity
Year: 2025
Type: preprint
Abstract: Herein we describe the preparation of a library of cationic bismuth(III) pyridine(diimine) compounds and the assessment of their Lewis acidity measured by their interaction with phosphine oxides, acid halides, ketones, and C-based silyl nucleophiles. These bismuth compounds have acceptor number values ranging between BiCl3 and AlCl3, however their catalytic reactivity for the formation of C-C bonds is distinct from these simple salts. Our studies suggest that Friedel-Crafts-type arene acylation is promoted via acid halide coordination, whereas nucleophilic ketone addition reactions are promoted via silyl nucleophile coordination. This work demonstrates that bismuth(III) pyridine(diimine) cations serve as selective and versatile Lewis acids for the activation of diverse donors to achieve C-C bond formation.
Source: ChemRxiv
Authors: Anthony Alfaro, Valerie Schmidt
Institution: University of California San Diego
Language: English
Subfield: Spectroscopy
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G5986892838, G6671297155
OpenAlex ID: W4410240628