Bis(dialkylmetal)-N,N′-dimethyloxamides of aluminium,gallium and indium,preparation, physical and spectroscopic properties

The reaction of N,N′-dimethyloxamide with trialkyl derivatives of aluminium, gallium, and indium yields bis(dialkylmetal) compounds of structural formula (R₂M)₂[O₂C₂(NCH₃)₂] (M = Al, Ga, In; and R = CH₃, C₂H₅). The M₂O₂C₂N₂ skeleton of these monomeric products forms an almost planar system of two fused five-membered rings, with S₂ symmetry. For the dimethylgallium and dimethylindium derivatives, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra show the presence of two conformational isomers which differ in the orientation of the N-methyl relative to the two metal-bound CH₃ groups.