Lipophilic bismuth phosphates: a molecular tetradecanuclear cage and a 1D-coordination polymer. Synthesis, structure and conversion to BiPO4.

The reaction of the phosphate monoester {(ArO)PO(OH)2} (Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3) with BiPh3 in a 1 : 1 ratio in refluxing toluene afforded a tetradecabismuth-oxo-phosphate cage [{(ArO)PO3}10{(ArO)PO2OH}2(Bi14O10)·2(CH3OH)]·3C6H12·3CH3OH·2H2O (Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3) (1). On the other hand the reaction of the phosphate diester {((t)BuO)2PO(OH)} with BiPh3 in a 1 : 1 ratio at room temperature in ethanol afforded the 1D-coordination polymer [Bi(C6H5)2((t)BuO)2PO2]n (2). The molecular structure of 1 reveals that the cage is comprised of a central planar Bi6 rim and two Bi4 poles. The entire aggregate is held together by multiple coordination of O(2-), [(ArO)P(O)(OH)](-), [(ArO)PO3](2-) and methanol ligands. 2 is a 1D-coordination polymer where adjacent bismuth is bridged by isobidentate [((t)BuO)2PO2](-) ligands. In solution, however, 2 decomposes into the monomeric repeat unit [Ph2Bi{((t)BuO)2PO2}] which is indicated by ESI-MS studies. Thermolysis of 1 and 2 at 700 °C affords a pure phase of BiPO4.