New semiconducting bismuth materials are of interest in producing more efficient photovoltaic and thermoelectrics. The research reported here describes the use of bismuth halide anions as synthons of new bismuth nitrogen precursors to bulk materials. Two unprecedented heterobimetallic bismuth nitrogen cubane compounds, [Bi4N4(SnMe3)4]2-and [Bi4N4(GaCl3)4], have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, election absorption, infrared, and 1H nuclear resonance spectroscopy. These are the first bismuth nitrogen compounds where the nitrogen atom is surrounded solely by metals and may be classified as a nitride anion. The reactivity of [Bi4N4(SnMe3)4]2- is such that [Bi4N4(GaCl3)4] is isolated from this compound. Further reactivity of these compounds in solution and in the solid state will be presented along with a comparison of this chemistry to that of bismuth chalcogenide compounds.

Synthesis and reactivity of two unprecedented bismuth-nitrogen cubanes

248th National Meeting (2014)

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