Expectation and surprise in group 13 organometallics: molecular vs. polymeric aggregation of Me2Ga and Me2In norcamphor oximates

Ullrich M, Berger R, Pape T, Mitzel NW. Expectation and surprise in group 13 organometallics: molecular vs. polymeric aggregation of Me2Ga and Me2In norcamphor oximates. DALTON TRANSACTIONS. 2006;(45):5334-5336.Whereas (meso)-[(norcamphor oximato) GaMe2](2) (1) exhibits the dimeric M2O2N2 motif favoured by organo group 13 metal oximates, the Me2In derivative [{( meso)-[( norcamphor oximato) InMe2] 2} 2]8 (2) aggregates distinctly different with the In atoms adopting coordination number (CN) = 5; compound 2 is the first oximato-based chain-like coordination polymer in group 13 organometallics; it comprises alternating M2O2N2 and M2O2 ring dimers interconnected via two types of a fifth dative bond (O. In and N. In) to yield the new {M4O4N4}(infinity) motif; the calculated energetics of the heteroatom rings involved in 1 and 2 confirm the diverging aggregational behaviour of Ga and In