Reactions of pentaphenylantimony with triphenylbismuth diacylates yield the
corresponding tetraphenylantimony acylates. Triphenylbismuth bis(trichloro
acetate) was prepared by oxidation of triphenylbismuth with hydrogen peroxi
de in the presence of trichloroacetic acid. The structure of triphenylbismu
th dibenzoate was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The coord
ination polyhedron of the central atom is intermediate between trigonal bip
yramid and pentagonal bipyramid; the benzoate groups occupy the equatorial
position.