CARBENE COMPLEXES OF GROUP 13 TRIHYDRIDES - SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF [MH3(CN(PR-I)C2ME2N(PR-I))], M = AL, GA OR IN

The reaction of LiInH4 with NMe3. HCl yielded [InH3(NMe3)] which could not be isolated in the solid state. Treatment of [MH3(NMe3)] with eit her 1 or 2 equivalents of the stable carbene :CN(Pr-i)C2Me2N(Pr-i) aff orded the carbene-metal trihydride complexes [MH3{CN(Pr-i)C2Me2N(Pr-i) }], M = Al, Ga or In. The aluminium and indium complexes could also be prepared by treating either LiAlH4 or LiInH4 with 1 or 2 equivalents of :CN(Pr-i)C2Me2N(Pr-i). Variable temperature H-1 NMR studies of the carbene-MH3 complexes revealed them to be fluxional in solution at roo m temperature. The crystal structures of the monomeric aluminium and g allium hydride complexes showed them to contain partially delocalised carbene ligands.