Simple synthesis of organogallium azides: structural characterization of [Mes(2)GaN(3)](2)

Salt elimination reactions between R2GaCl [R = n-Bu, s-Bu, Mes (C6H2Me3-2, 4,6)] and NaN3 leads to the bis-organogallium azides R2GaN3 (R = n-Bu 1, s- Bu 2, Mes 3) in good yields. The compounds have been characterized by NMR, IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, elemental analyses and cryoscopic mo lecular weight determinations. While 1 and 2 are liquids at room temperatur e, 3 is a solid. Its solid state structure was determined by single crystal X-ray analysis.