Abstract
The structure of the title compound has been determined by X-ray methods. Crystals are monoclinic, space group P21/c, with Z= 4 in a unit cell of dimensions a= 18·750(3), b= 10·108(2), c= 18·927(3)Å, β= 92·19(1)°. The structure was solved by the heavy-atom method and refined by block-diagonal least-squares methods to a residual R of 0·070 for 3145 data considered observed. The structure contains well separated discrete molecules. The two bismuth atoms are linked by an oxygen bridge [mean Bi–O(br) 2·065(10)Å, Bi–O–Bi 142·4(7)°]. The configuration about the bismuth atoms is distorted trigonal bipyramidal with the oxygen atoms apical and phenyl groups equatorial. The perchlorate groups are weakly co-ordinated to the metal [mean Bi–O(perchlorate) 2·65(1)Å], one being disordered. Other mean dimensions: Bi–C(Ph) 2·19(2)Å, O(br)–Bi–C(Ph) 97·1(1)°, Bi–O–Cl 132·3(8)°.