Syntheses and X-ray structures of monocyclic,bicyclic, and spirocyclic gallium and indium boraamidinates

The reactions of [Li(2)[PhB(N(t)Bu)(2)]](2) with GaCl(3) in various stoichiometries yield [Li(thf)(4)][PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)GaCl(2) x GaCl(3)] (1), [PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)GaCl](2) (2), and [mu-Li(OEt(2))[PhB(N(t)Bu)(2)]Ga] (3a), a series of complexes in which the three chloride ligands are successively replaced by the dianion [PhB(N(t)Bu)(2)](2-). The X-ray structures of 1, 2, and 3a show that the boraamidinate ligand adopts an N,N'-chelating mode. In the ion-separated complex 1, one of the nitrogen atoms is coordinated to a GaCl(3) molecule. The related indium complexes [mu-LiCl(thf)(2)][PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)InCl](2) (4) and [mu-Li(OEt(2))[PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)]In] (3b) were obtained in a similar manner. Complex 4 is the indium analogue of 2 with the incorporation of a bissolvated LiCl molecule. In 3a and 3b the spirocyclic [[PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)](2)M](-) (M = Ga, In) anions are N,N'-chelated to the [Li(OEt(2))](+) counterion. Prolonged reactions result in the formation of [PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)GaCl][(t)BuN(H)GaCl(2)] (5) and [[PhB(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)InCl][(t)BuN(H)InCl(2)][mu-LiCl(OEt(2))(2)]] (6), respectively. The X-ray structures of 5 and 6 reveal bicyclic structures which formally involve the entrapment of the monomers (t)BuN(H)MCl(2) by a four-membered BN(2)M ring (M = Ga, In). The synthesis and X-ray structure of Cl(2)Ga[mu-N(H)(t)Bu](2)GaCl(2) are also reported.