Spontaneous generation of stable pnictinyl radicals from "jack-in-the-box" dipnictines: a solid-state, gas-phase, and theoretical investigation of the origins of steric stabilization.

The molecular structures of the stable phosphinyl and arsinyl radicals, .PnR(2) [Pn = P (2); As (4); R = CH(SiMe(3))(2)], have been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) in conjunction with ab initio molecular orbital calculations. The X-ray crystal structures of the corresponding dipnictines, the "dimers", R(2)PnPnR(2) [Pn = P (1), As (3)], and the chloro derivatives R(2)PnCl [Pn = P (5), As (6)] have also been determined. Collectively, these structural investigations demonstrate that large distortions of the ligands attached to Pn occur when the pnictinyl radicals unite to form the corresponding dipnictine dimers. Principally, it is the shape and flexibility of the CH(SiMe(3))(2) ligands that permit the formation of the P-P and As-As bonds in 1and 3, respectively. However, theoretical studies indicate that in the process of pnictinyl radical dimerization to form 1 and 3, both molecules accumulate substantial amounts of potential energy and are thus primed to spring apart upon release from the solid state by melting, dissolution, or evaporation. The insights gleaned from these unusual systems have permitted a deeper understanding of the functioning of sterically demanding substituents.

Gallium-boron donor-acceptor bonds.

Examples of compounds with gallium-boron donor-acceptor bonds, HC[MeC(2,6-pri2C6H3)N]2Ga-->B(C6F5)3 3 and (eta 5-C5Me5)Ga-->B(C6F5)3 4 have been prepared by treatment of the free gallanediyls with B(C6F5)3; the structures of both compounds were determined by X-ray crystallography.

Synthesis and characterization of 8-(dimethylamino)-1-naphthyl derivatives of aluminum, gallium, and indium.

The group 13 dichlorides of formula Ar'MCl2 [Ar' = 8-(dimethylamino)-1-naphthyl (8-(Me2N)C10H6)], M = Al (1), Ga (2), and In (3), have been prepared via the salt elimination reaction of 1 equiv of Ar'Li with MCl3 in toluene solution at -78 degrees C. The reaction of 1 with LiAlH4 in diethyl ether solution at -78 degrees C produced the dihydride [Ar'AlH2]2 (4). The X-ray crystal structures of 1-4 have been determined and show that 1 and 2 are monomeric while 3 and 4 are dimeric in the solid state. The reaction of 1 with RLi in toluene solution at -78 degrees C results in ligand redistribution and formation of Ar'2AlR (R = Me (5), t-Bu (6)). The chloride analogue of 5 and 6, Ar'2AlCl (7), can be prepared directly from the reaction of 2 equiv of Ar'Li with AlCl3 in toluene solution at -78 degrees C. The homoleptic derivative Ar'3Al (8) was obtained when 3 equiv of Ar'Li was employed. Crystal data for 1: monoclinic, space group P2(1), a = 6.534(1) A, b = 10.801(1) A, c = 9.631(2) A, beta = 105.57(2) degrees, V = 654.8(2) A3, Z = 2, R = 0.0453. Crystal data for 2: monoclinic, space group P2(1), a = 6.552(2) A, b = 10.833(2) A, c = 9.601(2) A, beta = 106.05(2) degrees, V = 654.9(3) A3, Z = 2, R = 0.0609. Crystal data for 3: monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, a = 7.401(2) A, b = 15.746 A, c = 10.801(4) A, beta = 92.37(3) degrees, V = 1257.6(7) A3, Z = 2, R = 0.0712. Crystal data for 4: monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, a = 13.343(2) A, b = 11.228(2) A, c = 7.505(1) A, beta = 100.64(1) degrees, V = 1105.0(4) A3, Z = 4, R = 0.0560.