Synthesis and Reactions of Some Crowded Triorganylbismuthines

Bismuth trichloride reacts smoothly with mesityl- and 2,4,6-triisopropylphenylmagnesium bromides in boiling tetrahydrofuran to form the corresponding triarylbismuthines in good yields, while a similar reaction with 2,4,6-triisopropylphenylmagnesium bromide halts at diarylation stage, giving chlorobis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)bismuthine as the sole product. Several crowded alkyl-, alkenyl-, and alkyn-yldiarylbismuthines have been prepared from the above diarychlorobismuthine through the reaction with an appropriate organolithium reagent.