Selective arylation reactions of bismuth-transition metal salicylate complexes.

Heterometallic bismuth-niobium or -tantalum salicylate complexes react with sodium tetraphenylborate to produce complexes in which one or more aryl groups have been transferred from boron to bismuth with the concomitant displacement of a eta(2)-salicylato ligand. When the previously reported Bi(2)Ta(2)(sal)(4)(Hsal)(4)(OEt)(4) (1) and BiTa(4)(mu-O)(4)(sal)(4)(Hsal)(3)(O(i)Pr)(4) (2) are treated with an alcoholic solution of NaBPh(4), the compounds [PhBi(Hsal)Ta(sal)(2)(OEt)(2) x EtOH](2) (3) and PhBiTa(4)(mu-O)(4)(Hsal)(2)(sal)(4)(OEt)(4) x CH(2)Cl(2) (4) are produced (sal = O(2)CC(6)H(4)-2-O(2-), Hsal = O(2)CC(6)H(4)-2-OH(-)). The core geometries of the heterometallic complexes are retained. However, if preparations of compound 1 are treated with NaBPh(4) without prior isolation of 1, [Ph(2)BiNb(sal)(2)(OMe)(2)](infinity) (5) is produced instead. This compound was characterized both as a solvent-free crystalline form and as one containing a lattice diethyl ether. The compound exhibits a polymeric chain structure that can be viewed as alternating [Ph(2)Bi](+) and [Nb(sal)(2)(OMe)(2)](-) units connected via bridging carboxylate groups. The arylation of the bismuth(III) center proceeds smoothly under mild conditions at room temperature, affording a new means for the mild functionalization of bismuth-transition metal heterometallic complexes.