Synthesis and structure of the cyclic amido bismuth imide, {[(Me3Si)2N]Bi[μ-N(SiMe3)]}2, via loss of SiMe3 from a [N(SiMe3)2]1− ligand

The synthesis of Bi[N(SiMe3)2]3 from BiCl3 and KN(SiMe3)2 generates an unusual amido bismuth imide by-product, {[(Me3Si)2N]Bi[μ-N(SiMe3)]}2, evidently formed via Sisingle bondN bond cleavage. X-ray diffraction shows that the complex contains a planar Bi2N2 ring with tetrahedral bismuth and trigonal planar imido nitrogen atoms.