The synthesis, characterization, and photophysical properties of 4and 6-coordinate Bi 3+ coordination complexes are reported. Bi(bzq) 3 ( 1) and [Bi(bzq) 2 ]Br (2) (bzq = benzo[h]quinoline) are synthesized by reaction of 9-Libzq with BiCl 3 and BiBr 3 , respectively. Absorption spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and DFT studies suggest that 1 has 42% Bi 6s character in its highest-occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) as a result of six σ* interactions with the bzq ligands. Excitation of 1 at 450 nm results in a broad emission feature at 520 nm, which is rationalized as a metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) and phosphorescent emission resulting from bismuth-mediated intersystem crossing (ISC) to a triplet excited state. This excited state revealed a 35 μs lifetime and was quenched in the presence of oxygen. These results demonstrate that useful optoelectronic properties of Bi 3+ can be accessed through hypercoordination with covalent organobismuth interactions that mimic the electronic structure of lead perovskites.

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