Synthesis and molecular structure of an unusual -Ga-Ga-Ga- linked organometallic

Reaction of [(2,4,6-(Pr3C6H2)-C-i)(2)C6H3]GaCl2 with P(SiMe3)(3) affords th e unusual organometallic compound [(2,4,6-(Pr3C6H2)-C-i)(2)C6H3]Ga{H2PGa(H) PH2}Ga[C6H3(C6H2- Pr-3(i)-2,4,6)(2)] 1 characterized by multinuclear NMR, c omplete (C, H, Ga and P) elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy and single cry stal X-ray diffraction; 1 is significant as it contains a rare Ga-Ga-Ga [2. 5145(13) and 2.7778(14) Angstrom] linkage even as its formation is facilita ted by the unusual stripping of the sterically demanding m-terphenyl ligand from the central gallium atom.