09.12.2025 Anionic Bismuth Complexes Enable Novel Reactivity towards CO

Anionic bismuth compounds, stabilized only by two simple aryl ligands, were thought to be fleeting intermediates and could not be rationally synthesized to date. We report for the first time synthetic access to this class of compounds. This grants access to novel synthetic strategies with nucleophilic bismuth compounds. With this approach, bismuth acyl compounds could be synthesized for the first time and reveal unique reactivity patterns. This includes the reversible light-driven extrusion and insertion of carbon monoxide (CO), a reaction that has so far only been known for transition metal compounds. These results have just been accepted for publication in Nature Communications - congratulations to all the contributors!