Large Spin-Orbit Coupling (SOC) is an intrinsic property of the heavy-elements that directly affects the electronic structures of the compounds. Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of a mono-coordinate bismuthinidene featuring a rigid and bulky ligand. All magnetic measurements (SQUID, NMR) point to a diamagnetic compound. However, multiconfigurational quantum chemical calculations predict the ground state of the compound to be dominated (76%) by a spin-triplet. The apparent diamagnetism is explained by an extremely large SOC induced positive zero-field-splitting of more than 4500 cm −1 that leaves the M S = 0 magnetic sublevel thermally isolated in the electronic ground state.

Among the tools available to chemists for drug design of bioactive compounds, the bioisosteric replacement of atoms or groups of atoms is the cornerstone of modern strategies. Despite the undeniable interest in amino-to-hydroxyl interchange, enzymatic deaminative hydroxylation remains unmatched. Herein, we report a user friendly and safe procedure to selectively convert aminoheterocycles to their hydroxylated analogues by means of a simple pyrylium tetrafluoroborate salt. The hydroxylation step relies on a Lossen-type rearrangement under mild conditions thus avoiding the use of strong hydroxide bases. In addition to biorelevant heterocycles, the deaminative hydroxylation of electron-deficient anilines was also demonstrated. Finally, mechanistic experiments allowed the identification of the key intermediates, thus unveiling a rather unusual mechanism for this formal aromatic substitution.

Isolation and stabilization of main group diradical species have posed a synthetic challenge over the years due to their intrinsic high reactivity. Herein we report on a large-scale synthesis and isolation of a mono-coordinate bismuthinidene featuring a rigid and bulky ligand, which protects the Bi(I) center. The compound was characterized by its unique spectroscopic features (UV-vis and NMR), but more prominently, by its magnetic properties. Multiconfigurational quantum chemical calculations predict the ground state of the compound to be dominated by a spin-triplet. Further support for this electronic structure description was obtained through correlation of theory to experimental XRD, XAS, and UV-Vis data. However, all magnetic measurements (EPR, NMR and SQUID) point to a diamagnetic compound. This apparent discrepancy can be explained by an extremely large spin-orbit coupling (SOC) that leads to an unprecedented zero-field splitting of more than 8000 cm‒1, thus leaving a MS = 0 magnetic sublevel thermally isolated in the electronic ground state. The extremely large SOC effect is a result of the low-coordination number of the bismuth center in interplay with its heavy element nature.

Among the tools available to chemists for drug design of bioactive compounds, the bioisosteric replacement of atoms or groups of atoms is the cornerstone of modern strategies. Despite the undeniable interest in amino-to-hydroxyl interchange, enzymatic deaminative hydroxylation remains unmatched. Herein, we report a user friendly and safe procedure to selectively convert aminoheterocycles to their hydroxylated analogues by means of a simple pyrylium tetrafluoroborate salt. The hydroxylation step relies on a Lossen-type rearrangement under mild conditions thus avoiding the use of strong hydroxide bases. In addition to biorelevant heterocycles, the deaminative hydroxylation of electron-deficient anilines was also demonstrated. Finally, mechanistic experiments allowed the identification of the key intermediates, thus unveiling a rather unusual mechanism for this formal aromatic substitution.