Open for Bismuth: Main Group Metal-to-Ligand Charge Transfer.

The synthesis, characterization, and photophysical properties of 4- and 6-coordinate Bi coordination complexes are reported. Bi(bzq) () and [Bi(bzq)]Br () (bzq = benzo[]quinoline) are synthesized by reaction of 9-Li-bzq with BiCl and BiBr, respectively. Absorption spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and DFT studies suggest that has 42% Bi 6s character in its highest-occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) as a result of six σ* interactions with the bzq ligands.