Synthesis, crystal structure and photocatalytic properties of two bismuth (III) complexes with different N-containing heterocycles

Two novel bismuth(III) complexes of the formulae (2-HMI)(4)[Bi2Cl10] (1) and {(Hphen)[BiCl4]}(n) (2) (2-MI = 2-methylimidazole, Hphen = 1,10-phenanthroline) were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra and thermogravimetry analysis. The X-ray crystallographic investigation reveals that 1 is ionic compound built of 2-methylimidazolium cations and binuclear metalate anions, [Bi2Cl10](4-). 2 is a coordination polymer, and its asymmetric structural units are connected by one Bi3+ ion, four Cl- ions and one disordered and protonized Hphen(+) cation. In addition, the photocatalytic activities of 1 and 2 towards the degradations of Rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB) were explored, and the mechanism of the photocatalytic degradation was also discussed. The results show that 1 and 2 are good candidates for photocatalytic degradation of RhB and 2 is also a good candidate for photocatalytic degradation of MB.

Automated summary

Two novel bismuth(III) complexes were synthesized and characterized. One of the complexes is an ionic compound, while the other is a coordination polymer. Through photocatalytic experiments, it was found that these complexes exhibit good activity in the degradation of certain organic dyes.