A systematic series of triarylbismuthane oxides was prepared in order to disclose their structure and reactivity, which have been compared with those of lighter pnictogen counterparts. X-ray crystallographic analysis of tris(2-methoxyphenyl)bismuthane oxide and tris(2-methoxyphenyl)stibane oxide revealed that they exist as dimers with a flat bis(µ-oxo) ring, implying that the polarized Bi + -Oand Sb + -Obonds aggregate to attain electrostatic stabilization. In sharp contrast to their phosphorus, arsenic, and antimony counterparts, triarylbismuthane oxides are thermally unstable and possess a high oxidizing ability. In particular, the bismuthane oxides bearing ortho-substituted aryl ligands oxidized primary and secondary alcohols to aldehydes and ketones, respectively, with high efficiency under mild conditions.

Substituent effects on the oxidizing ability of triarylbismuth dichlorides were examined by intermolecular and intramolecular competition experiments on geraniol oxidation in the presence of DBU. It was found that the oxidizing ability of the dichlorides increases with increasing electron-withdrawing ability of the para substituents, and by introduction of a methyl group at the ortho position of the aryl ligands attached to the bismuth. The intermolecular and intramolecular H/D kinetic isotope effects observed for the competitive oxidation of p-bromobenzyl alcohols indicate that the rate-determining step involves C-H bond cleavage. Several primary and secondary alcohols were oxidized efficiently under mild conditions by the combined use of newly developed organobismuth(V) oxidants and DBU.