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Peer-reviewedCC BY 3.0Chemical Science

Trifluoromethylbismuth dications: pronounced parallel substrate activation, Lewis superacidity, and catalytic application

  • Ahmed Fetoh1,2,3
  • Heba Youssef1,2
  • Hendrik Kilian1,3
  • Bernhard Roling1,3
  • Crispin Lichtenberg1,3
  1. 1Department of Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg Hans-Meerwein-Str. 4 35032 Marburg Germany
  2. 2Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, El Gomhouria Mansoura Qism 2, Dakahlia Governorate 11432 Mansoura Egypt
  3. 3mar.quest|Marburg Center for Quantum Materials and Sustainable Technologies 35032 Marburg Germany
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Abstract

Understanding and exploiting the multiple facets of Lewis acidity represents a topical challenge in molecular chemistry. Here we present the synthesis of well-defined bismuth compounds bearing the electron-withdrawing CF3 group as a key structural feature. Most importantly, a range of dicationic species [Bi(CF3)(L)n]2+ could be isolated and characterized, the charge being balanced by different weakly coordinating anions (L = neutral ligand). The dicationic species are highly Lewis acidic (culminating in Lewis superacidity) and show the unusual ability to strongly activate two soft Lewis bases in parallel. The strong Lewis acidity was translated into a remarkable catalytic activity in the reduction of phosphane oxides.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{fetoh2026trifluoromethylbismuth,
  title = {{Trifluoromethylbismuth dications: pronounced parallel substrate activation, Lewis superacidity, and catalytic application}},
  author = {Ahmed Fetoh and Heba Youssef and Hendrik Kilian and Bernhard Roling and Crispin Lichtenberg},
  journal = {Chemical Science},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1039/d6sc04400j},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1039/d6sc04400j},
  note = {CC BY 3.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Trifluoromethylbismuth dications: pronounced parallel substrate activation, Lewis superacidity, and catalytic application
AU  - Ahmed Fetoh
AU  - Heba Youssef
AU  - Hendrik Kilian
AU  - Bernhard Roling
AU  - Crispin Lichtenberg
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/19
JO  - Chemical Science
DO  - 10.1039/d6sc04400j
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1039/d6sc04400j
AB  - Understanding and exploiting the multiple facets of Lewis acidity represents a topical challenge in molecular chemistry. Here we present the synthesis of well-defined bismuth compounds bearing the electron-withdrawing CF3 group as a key structural feature. Most importantly, a range of dicationic species [Bi(CF3)(L)n]2+ could be isolated and characterized, the charge being balanced by different weakly coordinating anions (L = neutral ligand). The dicationic species are highly Lewis acidic (culminating in Lewis superacidity) and show the unusual ability to strongly activate two soft Lewis bases in parallel. The strong Lewis acidity was translated into a remarkable catalytic activity in the reduction of phosphane oxides.
SN  - 2041-6520
SN  - 2041-6539
ER  -