[Ga6R8]2– (R = SiPh2Me): Eine metalloide Clusterverbindung mit einem unerwarteten Ga6‐Gerüst

[Ga₆R₈]^2– (R = SiPh₂Me): A Metalloid Cluster Compound with an Unexpected Ga₆‐Frame The reaction of a metastable solution of GaBr with a solution of LiSiPh₂Me in a toluene/THF mixture results in orange coloured crystals of [Ga₆(SiPh₂Me)₈]^2– · 2 [Li(THF)₄]⁺ ( 1 ). The unexpected structure of the planar Ga₆ frame (C_2h) could also be realized with the help of DFT calculation. DFT calculations furthermore show that 1 is energetically favoured against an octahedral Ga₆R₆^2– species and R₂. In contrast calculations for the similar Al and B species show that in these cases the octahedral entities are favoured. These results demonstrate that even for similar compounds of B, Al, and Ga Wade rules are too general and that they cannot predict the correct structure. Moreover the atomic arrangement within 1 shows that a structure is preferred which is also present in allotropic β‐Ga and that therefore clusters of this type should be called metalloid or more general elementoid.     

Di‐μ‐hydro­xo‐bis­(diiso­propyl­gallium)–1,4,8,11‐tetra­methyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane (1/1)

The hydro­lysis product [Ga₂(C₃H₇)₄(OH)₂]·C₁₄H₃₂N₄, derived from the tetrakis­(triiso­propyl­gallium)–1,4,8,11‐tetra­methyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane (1/1) adduct, consists of a centrosymmetric [ⁱPr₂Ga(μ‐OH)]₂ unit hydrogen bonded through the hydroxyl group to a nitro­gen on an adjacent centrosymmetric 1,4,8,11‐tetra­methyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane molecule, resulting in the generation of a molecular chain through the crystal.     

Aluminum‐ and Gallium‐Containing Open‐Dawson Polyoxometalates

Al‐ and Ga‐containing open‐Dawson polyoxometalates (POMs), K₁₀[{Al₄(μ‐OH)₆}{α,α‐Si₂W₁₈O₆₆}] · 28.5H₂O ( Al₄ ‐ open ) and K₁₀[{Ga₄(μ‐OH)₆}(α,α‐Si₂W₁₈O₆₆)] · 25H₂O ( Ga₄ ‐ open ) were synthesized by the reaction of trilacunary Keggin POM, [A‐α‐SiW₉O₃₄]^10–, with Al(NO₃)₃ · 9H₂O or Ga(NO₃)₃ · nH₂O, and unequivocally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis, ²⁹Si and ¹⁸³W NMR, and FT‐IR spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis and TG/DTA. Single‐crystal X‐ray analysis revealed that the {M₄(μ‐OH)₆}⁶⁺ (M = Al, Ga) clusters were included in an open pocket of the open‐Dawson polyanion, [α,α‐Si₂W₁₈O₆₆]^16–, which was constituted by the fusion of two trilacunary Keggin POMs via two W–O–W bonds. These two open‐Dawson structural POMs showed clear difference of the bite angles depending on the size of ionic radii. In cases of both compounds, the solution ²⁹Si and ¹⁸³W NMR spectra in D₂O showed only one signal and five signals, respectively. These spectra were consistent with the molecular structures of Al₄ ‐ and Ga₄ ‐ open , suggesting that these polyoxoanions were obtained as single species and maintained their molecular structures in solution.     

Di‐μ‐acetato‐bis­[(2‐acetyl­pyridine thio­semicarbazonato)zinc(II)]

The title compound, [Zn₂(C₂H₃O₂)₂(C₈H₉N₄S)₂], is a centrosymmetric dinuclear mol­ecule with two acetate bridging ligands in a syn–syn arrangement. The Zn^II atom is five‐coordinated in a trigonal–bipyramidal configuration by three thio­semicarbazone atoms (two N and one S) and by an O atom from each of the two acetate groups.     

Univalent Gallium Complexes of Simple and ansa‐Arene Ligands: Effects on the Polymerization of Isobutylene

Using [Ga(C₆H₅F)₂]⁺[Al(OR^F)₄]^?( 1 ) (R^F=C(CF₃)₃) as starting material, we isolated bis‐ and tris‐η⁶‐coordinated gallium(I) arene complex salts of p‐xylene (1,4‐Me₂C₆H₄), hexamethylbenzene (C₆Me₆), diphenylethane (PhC₂H₄Ph), and m‐terphenyl (1,3‐Ph₂C₆H₄): [Ga(1,4‐Me₂C₆H₄)_2.5]⁺ ( 2⁺ ), [Ga(C₆Me₆)₂]⁺ ( 3⁺ ), [Ga(PhC₂H₄Ph)]⁺ ( 4⁺ ) and [(C₆H₅F)Ga(μ‐1,3‐Ph₂C₆H₄)₂Ga(C₆H₅F)]²⁺ ( 5²⁺ ). 4⁺ is the first structurally characterized ansa‐like bent sandwich chelate of univalent gallium and 5²⁺ the first binuclear gallium(I) complex without a Ga?Ga bond. Beyond confirming the structural findings by multinuclear NMR spectroscopic investigations and density functional calculations (RI‐BP86/SV(P) level), [Ga(PhC₂H₄Ph)]⁺[Al(OR^F)₄]^?( 4 ) and [(C₆H₅F)Ga(μ‐1,3‐Ph₂C₆H₄)₂Ga(C₆H₅F)]²⁺{[Al(OR^F)₄] ^?}₂ ( 5 ), featuring ansa‐arene ligands, were tested as catalysts for the synthesis of highly reactive polyisobutylene (HR‐PIB). In comparison to the recently published 1 and the [Ga(1,3,5‐Me₃C₆H₃)₂]⁺[Al(OR^F)₄]^? salt ( 6 ) (1,3,5‐Me₃C₆H₃=mesitylene), 4 and 5 gave slightly reduced reactivities. This allowed for favorably increased polymerization temperatures of up to +15 °C, while yielding HR‐PIB with high contents of terminal olefinic double bonds (α‐contents=84–93 %), low molecular weights (M_n=1000–3000 g mol^?1) and good monomer conversions (up to 83 % in two hours). While the chelate complexes delivered more favorable results than 1 and 6 , the reaction kinetics resembled and thus concurred with the recently proposed coordinative polymerization mechanism.     

Das Hexagallan [Ga6{SiMe(SiMe3)2}6] und das closo‐Hexagallanat [Ga6{Si(CMe3)3}4(CH2C6H5)2]2— — der Übergang zu einem ungewöhnlichen precloso‐Cluster

The Hexagallane [Ga₆{SiMe(SiMe₃)₂}₆] and the closo‐Hexagallanate [Ga₆{Si(CMe₃)₃}₄ (CH₂C₆H₅)₂]^2— — the Transition to an Unusual precloso‐Cluster The closo hexagallanate [Ga₆R₄(CH₂Ph)₂]^2— (R = Si^tBu₃) as well as the hexagallane Ga₆R₆ (R = SiMe(SiMe₃)₂) with only six cluster electron pairs were isolated from reactions of “GaI” with the corresponding silanides. The structure of the latter is derived from an octahedron by a Jahn‐Teller‐distortion and is different from the capped trigonal bipyramidal one expected by the Wade‐Mingos rules. Both compounds were characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The bonding is discussed with simplified Ga₆H₆ and Ga₆H₆^2— models via DFT methods.     

Organo‐Palladium(II)‐Verbindungen mit PdC4‐Koordination: Phenylethinyl‐ und Methylphenylethinylkomplexe

Tetrakis(p‐tolyl)oxalamidinato‐bis[acetylacetonatopalladium(II)] ([Pd₂(acac)₂(oxam)]) reacted with Li–C≡C–C₆H₅ in THF with formation of [Pd(C≡C–C₆H₅)₄Li₂(thf)₄] ( 1a ). Reaction of [Pd₂(acac)₂(oxam)] with a mixture of 6 equiv. Li–C≡C–C₆H₅ and 2 equiv. LiCH₃ resulted in the formation of [Pd(CH₃)(C≡C–C₆H₅)₃Li₂(thf)₄] ( 2 ), and the dimeric complex [Pd₂(CH₃)₄(C≡C–C₆H₅)₄Li₄(thf)₆] ( 3 ) was isolated upon reaction of [Pd₂(acac)₂(oxam)] with a mixture of 4 equiv. Li–C≡C–C₆H₅ and 4 equiv. LiCH₃. 1 – 3 are extremely reactive compounds, which were isolated as white needles in good yields (60–90%). They were fully characterized by IR, ¹H‐, ¹³C‐, ⁷Li‐NMR spectroscopy, and by X‐ray crystallography of single crystals. In these compounds Li ions are bonded to the two carbon atoms of the alkinyl ligand. 1a reacted with Pd(PPh₃)₄ in the presence of oxygen to form the already known complexes trans‐[Pd(C≡C–C₆H₅)₂(PPh₃)₂] and [Pd(η²‐O₂)(PPh₃)₂]. In addition, 1a is an active catalyst for the Heck coupling reaction, but less active in the catalytic Sonogashira reaction.     

syn and anti conformations in 2‐hydroxy‐5‐[(E)‐(4‐nitrophenyl)diazenyl]benzoic acid and two related salts

The crystal structures of 2‐hydroxy‐5‐[(E)‐(4‐nitrophenyl)diazenyl]benzoic acid, C₁₃H₉N₃O₅, (I), ammonium 2‐hydroxy‐5‐[(E)‐phenyldiazenyl]benzoate, NH₄⁺·C₁₃H₉N₂O₃⁻, (II), and sodium 2‐hydroxy‐5‐[(E)‐(4‐nitrophenyl)diazenyl]benzoate trihydrate, Na⁺·C₁₃H₈N₃O₅⁻·3H₂O, (III), have been determined using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In (I) and (III), the phenyldiazenyl and carboxylic acid/carboxylate groups are in an anti orientation with respect to each other, which is in accord with the results of density functional theory (DFT) calculations, whereas in (II), the anion adopts a syn conformation. In (I), molecules form slanted stacks along the [100] direction. In (II), anions form bilayers parallel to (010), the inner part of the bilayers being formed by the benzene rings, with the –OH and –COO⁻ substituents on the bilayer surface. The NH₄⁺ cations in (II) are located between the bilayers and are engaged in numerous N—H...O hydrogen bonds. In (III), anions form layers parallel to (001). Both Na⁺ cations have a distorted octahedral environment, with four octahedra edge‐shared by bridging water O atoms, forming [Na₄(H₂O)₁₂]⁴⁺ units.     

Metalloradicals Supported by a meta‐Carborane Ligand

In this work, a pincer‐type complex [Cp*Ir‐(SNPh)(SNHPh)(C₂B₁₀H₉)] ( 2 ) was synthesized and its reactivity studied in detail. Interestingly, molecular hydrogen can induce the transformation between the metalloradical [Cp*Ir‐(SNPh)₂(C₂B₁₀H₉)] ( 5 ^.) and 2 . A mixed‐valence complex, [(Cp*Ir)₂‐(SNPh)₂(C₂B₁₀H₈)] ( 7 ^.+), was also synthesized by one‐electron oxidation. Studies show that 7 ^.+ is fully delocalized, possessing a four‐centered‐one‐electron (S‐Ir‐Ir‐S) bonding interaction. DFT calculations were also in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Mo4(η3‐allyl)4Cl2(OH)2(CO)8: the first cubane‐type Mo2+ organometallic complex with μ3‐OH and μ3‐Cl bridges

The reaction between fluorenyllithium and Mo(η³‐C₃H₅)Cl(NCMe)₂(CO)₂ led to the isolation of di‐μ₃‐chlorido‐di‐μ₃‐hydroxido‐tetrakis[(η³‐allyl)dicarbonylmolybdenum(II)]–9‐fluorenone–tetrahydrofuran (1/1/1), [Mo₄(C₃H₅)₄Cl₂(OH)₂(CO)₈]·C₄H₈O·C₁₃H₈O. The tetrametallic Mo₄ unit constitutes the first example of a complex containing simultaneously two μ₃‐OH groups and two μ₃‐Cl anions capping the metallic trigonal prism. The four crystallographically independent Mo²⁺ centres exhibit distorted octahedral geometry with the η³‐allyl groups being trans‐coordinated to a μ₃‐OH group and the carbonyl groups occupying the equatorial plane. Space‐filling tetrahydrofuran and 9‐fluorenone molecules are engaged in strong O—H...O hydrogen‐bonding interactions with Mo₄(η³‐allyl)₄Cl₂(OH)₂(CO)₈ complexes.     

Di­aqua­bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ2N,N′)­manganese(II) thiodiglycolate bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ2N,N′)(thiodiglycolato‐κ2O,O′)­manganese(II) tridecahydrate

The title compound, [Mn(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂(H₂O)₂](C₄H₄O₄S)·[Mn(C₄H₄O₄S)(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂]·13H₂O, contains one dianion of thio­diglycolic acid (tdga²⁻) and two independent man­ganese(II) moieties, viz. [Mn(phen)₂(H₂O)₂]²⁺ and [Mn(tdga)(phen)₂], where phen is 1,10‐phenanthroline. The Mn^II atoms are octahedrally coordinated by four N atoms of two bidentate phen ligands [Mn—N = 2.240 (2)–2.3222 (19) Å] and either two water O atoms or two tdga carboxyl O atoms [Mn—O = 2.1214 (17)–2.1512 (17) Å]. The tdga ligand chelates as an O,O′‐bidentate ligand, forming an eight‐membered ring with one Mn atom. The free tdga²⁻ dianion is hydrogen bonded to an [Mn(phen)₂(H₂O)₂]²⁺ ion, with O⋯O distances of 2.606 (2) and 2.649 (2) Å. The crystal structure is further stabilized by an extensive network of hydrogen bonds involving 13 water mol­ecules.     

Dihalomethanes as Bent Bifunctional XB/XB‐Donating Building Blocks for Construction of Metal‐involving Halogen Bonded Hexagons

The dihalomethanes CH₂X₂ (X=Cl, Br, I) were co‐crystallized with the isocyanide complexes trans‐[MX^M₂(CNC₆H₄‐4‐X^C)₂] (M=Pd, Pt; X^M=Br, I; X^C=F, Cl, Br) to give an extended series comprising 15 X‐ray structures of isostructural adducts featuring 1D metal‐involving hexagon‐like arrays. In these structures, CH₂X₂ behave as bent bifunctional XB/XB‐donating building blocks, whereas trans‐[MX^M₂(CNC₆H₄‐4‐X^C)₂] act as a linear XB/XB acceptors. Results of DFT calculations indicate that all XCH₂–X???X^M–M contacts are typical noncovalent interactions with estimated strengths in the range of 1.3–3.2 kcal mol^?1. A CCDC search reveals that hexagon‐like arrays are rather common but previously overlooked structural motives for adducts of trans‐bis(halide) complexes and halomethanes.     

Proton‐transfer compounds of isonipecotamide with the aromatic dicarboxylic acids 4‐nitrophthalic, 4,5‐dichlorophthalic, 5‐nitroisophthalic and terephthalic acid

The structures of the 1:1 proton‐transfer compounds of isonipecotamide (piperidine‐4‐carboxamide) with 4‐nitrophthalic acid [4‐carbamoylpiperidinium 2‐carboxy‐4‐nitrobenzoate, C₆H₁₃N₂O₈⁺·C₈H₄O₆⁻, (I)], 4,5‐dichlorophthalic acid [4‐carbamoylpiperidinium 2‐carboxy‐4,5‐dichlorobenzoate, C₆H₁₃N₂O₈⁺·C₈H₃Cl₂O₄⁻, (II)] and 5‐nitroisophthalic acid [4‐carbamoylpiperidinium 3‐carboxy‐5‐nitrobenzoate, C₆H₁₃N₂O₈⁺·C₈H₄O₆⁻, (III)], as well as the 2:1 compound with terephthalic acid [bis(4‐carbamoylpiperidinium) benzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylate dihydrate, 2C₆H₁₃N₂O₈⁺·C₈H₄O₄²⁻·2H₂O, (IV)], have been determined at 200 K. All salts form hydrogen‐bonded structures, viz. one‐dimensional in (II) and three‐dimensional in (I), (III) and (IV). In (I) and (III), the centrosymmetric R₂²(8) cyclic amide–amide association is found, while in (IV) several different types of water‐bridged cyclic associations are present [graph sets R₄²(8), R₄³(10), R₄⁴(12), R₃³(18) and R₆⁴(22)]. The one‐dimensional structure of (I) features the common `planar' hydrogen 4,5‐dichlorophthalate anion, together with enlarged cyclic R₃³(13) and R₄³(17) associations. In the structures of (I) and (III), the presence of head‐to‐tail hydrogen phthalate chain substructures is found. In (IV), head‐to‐tail primary cation–anion associations are extended longitudinally into chains through the water‐bridged cation associations, and laterally by piperidinium–carboxylate N—H...O and water–carboxylate O—H...O hydrogen bonds. The structures reported here further demonstrate the utility of the isonipecotamide cation as a synthon for the generation of stable hydrogen‐bonded structures. An additional example of cation–anion association with this cation is also shown in the asymmetric three‐centre piperidinium–carboxylate N—H...O,O′ interaction in the first‐reported structure of a 2:1 isonipecotamide–carboxylate salt.     

Luminescent properties of three structures built from 3‐cyano‐4‐dicyanomethylene‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐2‐olate and cadmium

Yellow–orange tetraaquabis(3‐cyano‐4‐dicyanomethylene‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐2‐olato‐κN³)cadmium(II) dihydrate, [Cd(C₈HN₄O₂)₂(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O, (I), and yellow tetraaquabis(3‐cyano‐4‐dicyanomethylene‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐2‐olato‐κN³)cadmium(II) 1,4‐dioxane solvate, [Cd(C₈HN₄O₂)₂(H₂O)₄]·C₄H₈O₂, (II), contain centrosymmetric mononuclear Cd²⁺ coordination complex molecules in different conformations. Dark‐red poly[[decaaquabis(μ₂‐3‐cyano‐4‐dicyanomethylene‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐2‐olato‐κ²N:N′)bis(μ₂‐3‐cyano‐4‐dicyanomethylene‐1H‐pyrrole‐2,5‐diolato‐κ²N:N′)tricadmium] hemihydrate], [Cd₃(C₈HN₄O₂)₂(C₈N₄O₂)₂(H₂O)₁₀]·0.5H₂O, (III), has a polymeric two‐dimensional structure, the building block of which includes two cadmium cations (one of them located on an inversion centre), and both singly and doubly charged anions. The cathodoluminescence spectra of the crystals are different and cover the wavelength range from UV to red, with emission peaks at 377 and 620 nm for (III), and at 583 and 580 nm for (I) and (II), respectively.     

Transition metal complexes with pyrazole‐derived ligands. XI. [Zn(μ‐L)(HL)(OAc)]2 (HL is 4‐acetyl‐3‐amino‐5‐methyl­pyrazole)

The title compound, bis(μ‐4‐acetyl‐3‐amino‐5‐methyl­pyrazol­ato‐N¹:N²)­bis­[(acetato‐O)­(4‐acetyl‐3‐amino‐5‐methyl­pyraz­ole‐N²)­zinc(II)], [Zn₂(C₆H₈N₃O)₂(C₂H₃O₂)₂(C₆H₉N₃O)₂], ex‐ists as a centrosymmetric binuclear mol­ecule with two tetrahedrally coordinated Zn atoms bridged by two pyrazolate anions. The geometry of the terminal and bridging pyrazole ligands are slightly different as a consequence of their differing modes of coordination.     

Alkali‐Metal Trichloroacetates for Dichloromethylenation of Fullerenes: Nucleophilic Addition‐Substitution Route

The first experimental evidence that fullerenes react with alkali‐metal trichloroacetates through a nucleophilic addition‐substitution route, yielding dichloromethylenefullerenes as the final products, is reported. The intermediates, C₆₀(CCl₃)^? and C₇₀(CCl₃)^? anions, have been isolated in their protonated forms as ortho‐C₆₀(CCl₃)H, as well as three ortho and one para isomer of C₇₀(CCl₃)H. The structures were unambiguously determined by means of ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹H–¹³C HMBC NMR spectroscopy along with UV/Vis spectroscopy. The observed regiochemistry was analyzed with the aid of quantum chemical calculations. Conversion of the protonated compounds into the [6,6]‐closed C_60/70(CCl₂) cycloadducts under basic conditions can be effected only for the ortho isomers, whereas para‐C₇₀(CCl₃)H decomposes back into pristine C₇₀.     

Kupferchalkogenid‐Clusterverbindungen mit Brom‐funktionalisierter Ligandenhülle

Five new copper chalcogenide cluster molecules, [Cu₄(S–C₆H₄–Br)₄(PPh₃)₄] ( 1 ), [Cu₂₂Se₆(S–C₆H₄–Br)₁₀(PPh₃)₈] ( 2 ), [Cu₂₈Se₆(S–C₆H₄–Br)₁₆(PPh₃)₈] ( 3 ), [Cu₄₇Se₁₀(S–C₆H₄–Br)₂₁(OAc)₆(PPh₃)₈] ( 4 ) and [Cu₈(S–C₆H₄–Br)₆(S₂C–NMe₂)₂(PPh₃)₄] ( 5 ) have been synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis. Compounds 1 – 4 were prepared from the reaction of CuOAc, p‐Br–C₆H₄–SSiMe₃ and Se(SiMe₃)₂ in the presence of PPh₃. In a further reaction of 1 with ⁱPrMgCl and (Me₂N–CS₂)₂ cluster 5 was crystallized.     

Two Ala‐Gln Dipeptide‐based Supramolecular Layers Decorated with Amino Acid Residues

l‐Alanyl‐glutamine dipeptide assembles with Cu^II ions to give the 2D coordination framework [Cu₂(C₈H₁₃N₃O₄)₂·2H₂O]_n ( 1 ) in which amino acid residues result in specific void space. In presence of 4,4′‐bipyridine, framework 1 is turned into a binuclear complex [Cu₂(C₈H₁₃N₃O₄)₂(H₂O)₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)·8H₂O] ( 2 ), which is further linked into a 2D hydrogen‐bonded layer in which amino acid residues induce a hydrogen‐bonded water cluster containing eight water molecules in the void space.     

Masking of Lewis acidity trends in the solid‐state structures of trichlorido‐ and tribromido(2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine‐κ3N,N′,N′′)gallium(III)

The molecular structures of trichlorido(2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine‐κ³N,N′,N′′)gallium(III), [GaCl₃(C₁₅H₁₁N₃)], and tribromido(2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine‐κ³N,N′,N′′)gallium(III), [GaBr₃(C₁₅H₁₁N₃)], are isostructural, with the Ga^III atom displaying an octahedral geometry. It is shown that the Ga—N distances in the two complexes are the same within experimental error, in contrast to expected bond lengthening in the bromide complex due to the lower Lewis acidity of GaBr₃. Thus, masking of the Lewis acidity trends in the solid state is observed not only for complexes of group 13 metal halides with monodentate ligands but for complexes with the polydentate 2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine donor as well.     

Models for Bonding in the Alkali Metal-Gallium Clusters K2Ga4(C6H3-2,6-Trip2)2 and Na2Ga4Trip6 (Trip=C6H2-2,4,6-i-Pr3): Importance of Alkali Metal-Aryl Interactions

Computational data for the tetragallium clusters K₂Ga₄(C₆H₃-2,6-Trip₂)₂ and Na₂Ga₄Trip₆ (Trip=C₆H₂-2,4,6-i-Pr₃) showed that significant Ga–Ga multiple bonding exists only in the latter species. The data for the M₂Ga₄R₂ (M=Li, Na or K; R=H, Me or Ph) models of K₂Ga₄(C₆H₃-2,6-Trip₂)₂, which has a distorted octahedral K₂Ga₄ core structure incorporating an almost square Ga₄ moiety, showed that they have an occupied bonding -orbital that is delocalized over the four galliums, thereby conferring formal aromatic character by the [4n+2] Hückel rule. However, the Ga–Ga bond order is approximately one, and the hypothetical free [Ga₄H₂]^2– dianion is unstable toward electron dissociation. For the cluster Na₂Ga₄Trip₆, calculations for the model compounds Ga₄H₆ and [Ga₄H₆]^2–, which involve a central gallium trigonally substituted by three GaH₂ units, confirmed that no multiple bonding exists in the neutral species Ga₄H₆ but that, upon reduction to [Ga₄H₆]^2–, a -bond is formed which is delocalized over the Ga₄ unit. The Ga–Ga distances that were calculated for all model species listed above are longer than those experimentally observed. This was attributed to the absence of alkali metal-aryl interactions in the model species.