Synthesis, crystal structure and photocatalytic properties of two bismuth(III) complexes with different N-containing heterocycles

Two bismuth(III) complexes based on N-containing heterocyclic ligands were synthesized and characterized by EA, single crystal X-ray diffraction, PXRD, FT-IR and TG-DSC. The complexes 1 and 2 exhibit good activities for the photocatalytic decomposition of Rhodamine B. And the complex 2 is a good candidate for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. [Display omitted] Two novel bismuth(III) complexes of the formulae (2-HMI)4[Bi2Cl10] (1) and {(Hphen)[BiCl4]}n (2) (2-MI = 2-methylimidazole, Hphen = 1,10-phenanthroline) were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra and thermogravimetry analysis. The X-ray crystallographic investigation reveals that 1 is ionic compound built of 2-methylimidazolium cations and binuclear metalate anions, [Bi2Cl10]4–. 2 is a coordination polymer, and its asymmetric structural units are connected by one Bi3+ ion, four Cl– ions and one disordered and protonized Hphen+ cation. In addition, the photocatalytic activities of 1 and 2 towards the degradations of Rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB) were explored, and the mechanism of the photocatalytic degradation was also discussed. The results show that 1 and 2 are good candidates for photocatalytic degradation of RhB and 2 is also a good candidate for photocatalytic degradation of MB.