Aryl(dimethyl)gallium compounds and methyl(diphenyl)gallium: Synthesis, structure, and redistribution reactions

Jutzi P, Izundu J, Neumann B, Mix A, Stammler H-G. Aryl(dimethyl)gallium compounds and methyl(diphenyl)gallium: Synthesis, structure, and redistribution reactions. ORGANOMETALLICS. 2008;27(18):4565-4571.Treatment of diphenylmercury with an excess of trimethylgallium at higher temperatures resulted in the formation of dimethyl(phenyl)gallium (1). Similarly, reaction of 1-chloromercurio(4-methylbenzene) and 1-chloromercurio(4-tert-butylbenzene) with an excess of trimethylgallium gave dimethyl(4-methylphenyl)gallium (2) and dimethyl(4-tert-butylphenyl)gallium (3), respectively. Treatment of diphenylmercury with an equivalent amount of trimethylgallium resulted in the formation of methyl(diphenyl)gallium (4). The X-ray crystallographic studies of compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 revealed the presence of trigonal planar coordinate gallium atoms in monomeric molecules, which associate to polymeric strands by additional intermolecular gallium pi-aryl contacts, thus leading to an overall trigonal bipyramidal coordination geometry at gallium. Compounds 1-4 are stable in the solid state and in solution. Substituent redistribution reactions take place at higher temperatures and at room temperature in the presence of THE Compound 1 could also be prepared by the reaction of triphenylgallium with an excess of trimethylgallium at higher temperatures