The metalation of several free base porphyrins by the bismuth salts Bi(NO3)3 and Bi(SO3CF3)3 in DMF or pyridine is described. The resulting stable Bi(III) porphyrin complexes are characterized by electrochemistry, 1H NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy. The structure of (OEP)Bi(SO3CF3) was also determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and shows that (OEP)Bi(SO3CF3) exists as a dimer which is stabilized by electrostatic interactions in which the two [(OEP)Bi]+ cations are linked via oxygen atoms of two symmetrically related
anions, leading to a heptacoordinated bismuth center. Electrochemical oxidation of (OEP)Bi(SO3CF3) and (TpTP)Bi(SO3CF3) shows that only the porphyrin macrocycles are oxidized.