Synthesis and characterization of HC[C(Me)N(C(6)H(3)-2,6-i-Pr(2))](2)MX(2) (M = Al, X = Cl, I; M = Ga, In, X = Me, Cl, I): sterically encumbered beta-diketiminate group 13 metal derivatives.

A series of group 13 metal complexes featuring the beta-diketiminate ligand [[(C(6)H(3)-2,6-i-Pr(2))NC(Me)](2)CH](-) (i.e., [Dipp(2)nacnac](-), Dipp = C(6)H(3)-2,6-i-Pr(2)) have been prepared and spectroscopically and structurally characterized. The chloride derivatives Dipp(2)nacnacMCl(2) (M = Al (3), Ga (5), In (8)) were isolated in good yield by the reaction of 1 equiv of Dipp(2)nacnacLi.Et(2)O (2) and the respective metal halides. The iodide derivatives Dipp(2)nacnacMI(2) (M = Al (4), Ga (6), In (9)), which are useful for reduction to afford M(I) species, were made by a variety of routes. Thus, 4 was obtained by treatment of the previously reported Dipp(2)nacnacAlMe(2) with I(2), whereas the gallium analogue 6 was obtained as a product of the reaction of "GaI" with Dipp(2)nacnacLi.Et(2)O, and 9 was obtained by direct reaction of InI(3) and the lithium salt. The methyl derivatives Dipp(2)nacnacMMe(2) (M = Ga (7), In (10)), which are analogous to the previously reported Dipp(2)nacnacAlMe(2), were synthesized by the reaction of GaMe(3) with Dipp(2)nacnacH (1) or by reaction of the indium chloride derivative 8 with 2 equiv of MeMgBr in diethyl ether. The compounds 3-10 exist as colorless, air- and moisture-sensitive crystalline solids. Their X-ray crystal structures feature nearly planar C(3)N(2) arrays in the Dipp(2)nacnac ligand backbone with short C-C and C-N distances that are consistent with a delocalized structure. However, there are large dihedral angles between the C(3)N(2) plane and the N(2)M metal coordination plane which have been attributed mainly to steric effects. The relatively short M-N distances are consistent with the coordination numbers of the metals and the normal/dative character of the nitrogen ligands. The compounds were also characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. (1)H NMR data for 7 revealed equivalent methyl groups whereas the spectrum of 10 displayed two In-Me signals which indicated that ring wagging was slow on the (1)H NMR time scale.

Tetrameric indium trichloride, a new modification of a widely used compound.

The title compound, hexa-mu-chloro-1:2kappa(4)Cl;2:3kappa(4)Cl;3:4kappa(4) Cl-hexachlor o-1kappa(2)Cl,2kappaCl,3kappaCl, 4kappa(2)Cl-hexakis(diethylamine)-1kappa(2)N,2kappa N,3kappaN, 4kappa(2)N-tetraindium(III), [(InCl(3))(4)(Et(2)NH)(6)] or [In(4)Cl(12)(C(4)H(11)N)(6)], lies about an inversion centre and consists of four octahedrally coordinated In centres linked by bridging Cl atoms to form three four-membered In(2)Cl(2) rings.