Toward a general strategy for the synthesis of heterobimetallic coordination complexes for use as precursors to metal oxide materials:: Synthesis, characterization, and thermal decomposition of Bi2(Hsal)6•M(Acac)3 (M= Al, Co, V, Fe, Cr)

Bismuth(III) salicylate, [Bi(Hsal)(3)](n), reacts readily with the trivalent metal beta-diketonate compounds M(acac)(3) (acac = acetylacetonate; M = Al, V, Cr, Fe, Co) to produce trinuclear coordination complexes of the general formula Bi-2(Hsal)(6).M(acac)(3) (M = Al, V, Cr, Fe, Co) in 60-90% yields. Spectroscopic and single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments indicate that these complexes possess an unusual asymmetric nested structure in both solution and solid state. Upon standing in dichloromethane solution, Bi-2(Hsal)(6).Co(acac)(3) eliminates Bi(Hsal)(3) to give the 1:1 adduct Bi(Hsal)(3).Co(acac)(3). The 2:1 heterobimetalIic molecular compounds undergo facile thermal decomposition on heating in air to 475degreesC to produce heterometallic oxide materials, which upon annealing for 2 h at 700degreesC form crystalline oxide materials. The synthetic approach detailed here represents a unique, general approach to the formation of heterobimetallic bismuth-based coordination complexes via the coordination of M(acac)3 complexes to bismuth(III) salicylate.