Synthesis applications with bismuth

B. Synthesis and Applications of Bismuth Compounds Labelled with... 

As mentioned in the introduction, the tubular materials are fascinating new structures with a considerable potential for various applications. Most of the nanotubes investigated to date have been carbon-based nanotubes. In this chapter, we have discussed the properties of various nanotubes with a silicon or germanium backbone structure. Most of these nanotubes are still hypothetical, "made" only in the computer. We proposed the stability of phosphorus nanotubes, and about a year later Li et al. reported the successful synthesis of nanotubes from bismuth, which is isoelectronic with phosphorus. The stability of NbS2 nanotubes was also proposed in 2000, and these were synthesized by Nath and Rao in 2001... 

Interestingly bismuth(III) halides (BiXs with X = Cl, Br, I) have been found to be efficient catalysts for the activation of halosilanes leading to their use as halogenating agents [17a,bj. Using polychlorosilanes, polysiloxanes have been obtained. This unprecedented exaltation of the Si-Cl bond has found an application in the synthesis of a series of -halo ketones and esters [17cj. 

---