Synthesis and Thermal Behaviour of Compounds in the System [Ph4P]Cl/BiCl3 and the Crystal Structures of [Ph4P]3[Bi2Cl9] · 2 CH2Cl2 and [Ph4P]2[Bi2Cl8] · 2 CH3COCH3

Six polynuclear chlorobismuthates are formed in the reaction between BiCl₃ and Ph₄PCl by variation of the molar ratio of the educts, the solvents and the crystallisation methods: [Ph₄P]₃[Bi₂Cl₉] · 2 CH₂Cl₂, [Ph₄P]₃[Bi₂Cl₉] · CH₃COCH₃, [Ph₄P]₂[Bi₂Cl₈] · 2 CH₃COCH₃, [Ph₄P]₄[Bi₄Cl₁₆] · 3 CH₃CN, [Ph₄P]₄[Bi₆Cl₂₂], and [Ph₄P]₄[Bi₈Cl₂₈]. We report the crystal structure of [Ph₄P]₃[Bi₂Cl₉] · 2 CH₂Cl₂ which crystallises with triclinic symmetry in the S. G. P1 No. 2, with the lattice parameters a = 13.080(3) Å, b = 14.369(3) Å, c = 21.397(4) Å, α = 96.83(1)°, β = 95.96(1)°, γ = 95.94(2)°, V = 3943.9(1) ų, Z = 2. The anion is formed from two face‐sharing BiCl₆‐octahedra. [Ph₄P]₂[Bi₂Cl₈] · 2 CH₃COCH₃ crystallises with monoclinic symmetry in the S. G. P2₁/n, No. 14, with the lattice parameters a = 14.045(5) Å, b = 12.921(4) Å, c = 17.098(3) Å, β = 111.10(2)°, V = 2894.8(2) ų, Z = 2. The anion is a bi‐octahedron of two square‐pyramids, joined by a common edge. The octahedral coordination is achieved with two acetone ligands. [Ph₄P]₄[Bi₄Cl₁₆] · 3 CH₃CN crystallises in the triclinic S. G., P1, No. 2, with the lattice parameters a = 14.245(9) Å, b = 17.318(6) Å, c = 24.475(8) Å, α = 104.66(3)°, β = 95.93(3)°, γ = 106.90(4)°, V = 5486(4) ų, Z = 2. Two Bi₂Cl₈ dimers in syn‐position form the cubic anion. Lattice parameters of [Ph₄P]₃[Bi₂Cl₉] · CH₃COCH₃ are also given. The solvated compounds are desolvated at approximately 100 °C. [Ph₄P]₃[Bi₂Cl₉] · 2 CH₂Cl₂ and [Ph₄P]₃[Bi₂Cl₉] · CH₃COCH₃ show the same sequence of phase transitions after desolvation. All compounds melt into a liquid in which some order is observed and transform on cooling into the glassy state.