Indium-based liquid clathrates. III. Inclusion compounds derived from [Bu4N][InCl3X] salts and their suitability as a catalysis medium

Tetrabutylammonium salts of the mixed haloindates, Bu₄N]InCl₃X], X=Cl, Br, I, interact with aromatic solvents forming liquid inclusion compounds. The aromatic/cation ratio (A/C), a measure of the amount of guest aromatic, has been determined for a variety of simple aromatics. The values range from 2.6 to 0.4, substantially lower than the A/A of similar Bu₄N]Al₂R₆X] liquid clathrates. The ability of these liquid clathrates to function as catalysis media has been explored. The solubility of (Ph₃P)₂Rh(CO)Cl and (Ph₃P)₃RhCl in the various clathrates was determined. It was found that significant leaching of the catalyst into the bulk aromatic solvent occurred, ranging from 13 to 94%. A related liquid clathrate, Li·12-crown-4]InCl₄]·(C₆H₅CH₃)₂, had <1% of the dissolved catalyst leached.