Molecules 2011, 16, 4191-4230; doi:10.3390/molecules16054191 OPEN ACCESS molecules ISSN 1420-3049 www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules Review Synthesis, Properties Characterization and Applications of Various Organobismuth Compounds Jingfei Luan *, Lingyan Zhang and Zhitian Hu State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; E-Mails:
[email protected] (L.Z.),
[email protected] (Z.H.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail:
[email protected]; Tel.: +86-135-8520-6718; Fax: +86-25-8370-7304. Received: 15 April 2011; in revised form: 9 May 2011 / Accepted: 12 May 2011 / Published: 20 May 2011 Abstract: Organobismuth chemistry was emphasized in this review article due to the low price, low toxicity and low radioactivity characteristics of bismuth. As an environmentally- friendly class of organometallic compounds, different types of organobismuth compounds have been used in organic synthesis, catalysis, materials, etc. The synthesis and property characterization of many organobismuth compounds had been summarized. This review article also presented a survey of various applications of organobismuth compounds in organic transformations, as reagents or catalysts. The reactivity, reaction pathways and mechanisms of reactions with organobismuths were discussed. Less common and limiting aspects of organobismuth compounds were also briefly mentioned. Keywords: organobismuth compounds; synthesis; properties; reagent; catalyst 1. Introduction Organometallic compounds such as organoboron, organotin, organosilicon, organoantimony, organolead, etc. have been widely applied in organic synthesis in the past several decades [1-3]. A number of reports [4-8] on these compounds have mentioned their positive role in a variety of synthetic transformations or polymerizations, acting as reagents or catalysts.