GROUP 13 CLUSTER CHEMISTRY: ORGANOGALLIUM AND -INDIUM SUBHALIDES AND RADICALS

Organogallium or-indium subhalides are easily available by the halogenation of the corresponding tetrahedral clusters E ₄ C(SiMe ₃ ) ₃ ] ₄ . Three types of compounds are formed that retain the tetrahedral arrangement of In atoms or give chains with two or three Ga or In atoms connected by E─E bonds. These subhalides are suitable starting compounds for the synthesis of secondary products containing the elements in low oxidation states. Carboxylato derivatives or transition metal complexes were obtained on such a route. A persistent radical anion was formed on electron transfer to Ga ₉ (CMe ₃ ) ₉ .