Synthesis of arylbismuth(III) sulfonates from triarylbismuth compounds and arenesulfonic acids or sulfur trioxide

Reactions of triphenyt- and tri-p-tolyl-bismuth with the appropriate arenesulfonic acids give the diarylbismuth(III) sulfonates, R₂BiO₃SR′ (R, R′ = Ph or p-MeC₆H₄). (p-MeC₆H₄)₃Bi reacts with PhSO₃H (mole ratio, 1:2) under more aggressive conditions to give impure p-MeC₆H₄Bi(O₃SPh)₂. From reactions of the bismuthines with sulfur tri- oxide, Ph₂BiO₃SPh (not Ph₃Bi·SO₃ as previously indicated [1]) and a mixture of (p-MeC₆H₄)₂BiO₃S- p-MeC₆H₄ and p-MeC₆H₄Bi(O3S-p-MeC₆H₄)₂ have been obtained. On prolonged standing, Ph₂BiO₃SR′ (R′ = Ph or p-MeC₆H₄) compounds decompose into BiO(O₃SR′) and a small amount of triphenylbismuth.