AL-27 AND GA-71 NMR-STUDIES OF THE SOLUTION CHEMISTRY OF GA[ALCL4] AND RELATED-COMPOUNDS

The non-aqueous solution chemistry of GaAlCl4 has been investigated by Al-27 and Ga-71 NMR spectroscopy. In dilute solution in benzene, the solute species are of the form {[RnGa](+)[ClxAlCl4-x](-)}(m) (R = aren e; x = 1-3, n, m undetermined), while in concentrated solutions the do minant interactions involve aggregates of ion pairs. Dilute solutions of the salt in n-heptane have also been studied, together with n-hepta ne-benzene mixtures, solutions of GaAlCl4 and Ga2Cl6 in n-heptane, sol utions of GaAlBr4 and GaAlI4 in benzene, and mixed GaAlCl4-GaAlBr4 sys tems. The hydrolysis of GaAlCl4 in benzene is shown to involve reactio n at both Ga and Al centres.