Ot. Beachley et al., LOW OXIDATION-STATE GALLIUM COMPOUNDS - SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF [GA(CH2CME3)]N, Organometallics, 13(7), 1994, pp. 2885-2889
The new organogallium(I) compound [Ga(CH2CMe3)]n has been prepared by
the reduction of Ga(CH2CMes)2CI by using either sodium or lithium with
naphthalene in THF. When the reagents were combined at -78-degrees-C,
a yellow intermediate, a neopentylgallium(III) derivative of dihydron
aphthalene C10H8[Ga(CH2CMe3)2]2.2MCl (M = Li, Na) was formed. Warming
of the solution to 0-25-degrees-C resulted in decomposition of the yel
low intermediate and formation of a reddish brown solution of [Ga(CH2C
Me3)]n, Ga(CH2CMe3)3, C10H8, and either NaCl or LiCl. The gallium(I) p
roduct was a vitreous solid and was characterized by complete elementa
l analyses, hydrolyses with HCl/H2O and with DCl/D2O, oxidation with H
gCl2 and with I2, cryoscopic molecular weight studies in benzene solut
ion, and IR and NMR spectroscopic studies. All data support the conclu
sion that [Ga(CH2CMe3)]n exists as a mixture of species which are gall
ium cages. The numbers of gallium atoms in these cages might range fro
m 6 to 12 atoms.