Bismuth(iii) 5-sulfosalicylate complexes: structure, solubilit...

Treatment of 5-sulfosalicylic acid (H(3)Ssal) with BiPh(3) results in the formation of the first dianionic carboxylate-sulfonate bismuth complex, [PhBi(HSsal)H(2)O](infinity), and its ethanol analogue [PhBi(HSsal)EtOH](infinity) (space group P2(1)/c), while Bi(OAc)(3) gives the mixed monoanionic and dianionic complex, {[Bi(HSsal)(H(2)Ssal)(H(2)O)(3)](2).2H(2)O}(infinity) (space group P1[combining macron]). The three complexes are all polymeric in the solid state as determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, with extended frameworks constructed from dimeric [Bi(HSsal)](2), and , or from [Bi(HSsal)(H(2)Ssal)](2) units, . The heteroleptic bismuth complexes and display remarkable aqueous solubility, 10 and 2.5 mg ml(-1) respectively, resulting in a clear solution of pH 1.5. In contrast, is essentially insoluble in aqueous environments. All three complexes show significant activity against the bacterium Helicobacter pylori of <6.25 mug ml(-1).