Reactions of neopentylindium(III) derivatives with isopropylphosphorus compounds

A 1:1 mixture of In(CH2CMe3)(3) and HP(i-Pr)(2) at room temperature undergo es a very slow hydrocarbon elimination reaction to form [(Me3CCH2)(2)InP(i- Pr)(2)](2) and neopentane. The indium phosphide [(Me3CCH2)(2)InP(i-Pr)(2)]( 2) has also been prepared by reacting KIn(CH2CMe3)(3)H with CIP(i-Pr)(2) in pentane. When pentane solutions of these reagents were combined at -78 deg reesC and then maintained at similar to 20 degreesC for 2 days, [(Me3CCH2)( 2)InP(i-Pr)(2)](2), (Me3CCH2)(3)In .P(H)(i-Pr)(2), (Me3CCH2)(3)In .P-2(i-Pr )(4), (Me3CCH2)(3)In .P(CH2CMe3)(i-Pr)(2), H-2, indium metal, and KCl were observed. The formation of all products is explained by a set of experiment ally verified reactions. An X-ray structural study of [(Me3CCH2)(2)InP(i-Pr )(2)](2) shows each molecule to have an unusual puckered four-membered In2P 2 core.