Trimethylbismuth is an organobismuth compound with the chemical formula . It is a colorless flammable dielectric organometallic liquid.
Trimethylbismuth is produced by reaction of bismuth(III) chloride with methylmagnesium iodide in diethyl ether under atmosphere of nitrogen, hydrogen or carbon dioxide.
It can also be sinthesized by reaction between bismuth(III) bromide and methyllithium in tetrahydrofuran or diethyl ether under inert atmosphere.
Trimethylbismuth is reactive, especially in the presence of moisture, where it can hydrolyze to form bismuth(III) oxide and methanol.
The optical properties of trimethylbismuth are relevant for particle detection. Trimethylbismuth is commonly used in metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) processes, especially for creating thin bismuth-containing films. A mixture of trimethylbismuth and oxygen is used for growth of rods on a silicon substrate without using any catalyst. Trimethylbismuth is used in material science, semiconductor technology, and chemical synthesis, where it enables the controlled addition of bismuth in various systems. Its properties make it important in producing high-performance materials for electronics and specialized chemical research. Trimethylbismuth is used for the growth of semiconductor.
Trimethylbismuth is toxic. It can cause serious skin and eye damage. It catches fire spontaneously upon contact with air. It must be kept under inert atmosphere.