Bismuth(III) Complex of the [S4]•- Radical Anion: Dimer Formation via Pancake Bonds.

Reaction of bismuth(II) compounds with sulfur gives mixtures of [Bi(NONR)]2(µ2-Sn) (NONR = [O(SiMe2NR)2]2-). Examples for n = 1 and 3 have been crystallographically verified for R = 2,6-iPr2C6H3 (Dipp) and R = tBu, and the pentasulfide (n = 5) for R = Dipp. The corresponding product from reaction with the new Bi(II) radical Bi(NONAr‡)• (Ar‡ = C6H2(CHPh2)2-tBu-2,6,4) exists as the dimer [Bi(NONAr‡)(S4)]2, with π*(SOMO)-π*(SOMO) interactions linking the sulfur chains through trans-antarafacial pancake bonds.