Cost efficient synthesis of bismuth aminoalkoxides from bismuth oxide: Molecular structure of [Bi2(mdea)2(mdeaH)2](mdeaH2)2

Functional Bi alkoxides were prepared by reaction between the oxide and diols such as N-methyldiethanolamine (mdeaH2), diethanolamine (deaH2) and triethanolamine (teaH3) in refluxing toluene in high yields. Similar reactions with polyols without N-donor site lead to oxo species. The derivative obtained with N-methyldiethanolamine was characterised by X-ray diffraction as a dimer [Bi2(mdea)2(mdeaH)2] associated as chains through H-bonding with neutral diol molecules giving the title compound. Bismuth is pseudo 7-coordinate. Bi–O bond distances range from 2.150(5) to 3.093(5) Å with three short ones, whereas the transannular Bi–N bond distances are 2.737 Å av. Thermolysis and hydrolysis reactions are reported.