Tris(5-bromo-2-methoxyphenyl)bismuth bisbenzenesulfonate solvate with toluene: Synthesis and structure

Tris(5-bromo-2-methoxyphenyl)bismuth bisbenzenesulfonate, which crystallizes from toluene in the solvate form (5-Br-2-MeOC₆H₃)₃Bi(OSO₂Ph)₂ ? TolH (I), has been synthesized by the reaction between tris(5-bromo-2-methoxyphenyl)bismuth and benzenesulfonic acid in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (1: 2: 1 mol/mol/mol) in ether. A crystal contains two types of crystallographically independent molecules (a and b), in which bismuth atoms have a trigonal bipyramidal coordination to benzenesulfonate substituents in axial positions. The axial OBiO angle is 175.4(3)° (Ia) and 175.5(3)° (Ib), and the equatorial CBiC angles are 111.2(3)°, 122.0(4)°, 126.7(4)° (Ia) and 111.3(4)°, 123.3(3)°, 125.2(4)° (Ib). The Bi–C distances are 2.189(9), 2.198(9), 2.200(10) Å (Ia) and 2.198(9), 2.202(9), 2.209(9) Å (Ib). The Bi–O bond lengths are 2.274(8), 2.306(8) Å (Ia) and 2.248(8), 2.303(8) Å (Ib). Intramolecular contacts between the bismuth atom and the oxygen atoms of methoxy and sulfonate groups take place in molecules.