Calcium Bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amino‐triethylgallate] — A Molecule with Ca‐C‐Ga Three‐Center Bonds

The reaction of calcium‐bisbis(trimethylsilyl)amide] with two equivalents triethylgallium yields nearly quantitatively the addition product. In the solid state the calcium atoms are coordinated by two nitrogen atoms and two ethyl groups, whereas in solution all ethyl substituents are magnetically equivalent even at low temperatures. The Ca‐C‐Ga two‐electron three‐center bonds show mean Ca‐N and Ca‐C distances of 243 and 268 pm, respectively.