A Simple High-Yield Synthesis of Gallium(I) Tetrachlorogallate(III) and the Reaction of Digallium Tetrachloride Tetrahydrofuran Solvate with 1,2-Diols
Abstract Gallium(I) tetrachlorogallate(III) Ga[GaCU] was prepared in quantitative yield by thermal decomposition of dichlorogallane [HGaCl2]2, which is readily available from Et3SiH and [GaCl3]2. The reaction of catechol with solutions of this gallium(I) tetrachlorogallate(III) in tetrahydrofuran leads to the evolution of hydrogen gas and affords a dinuclear gallium(III) complex with penta-coordinate metal atoms chelated and bridged by mono-deprotonated catechol ligands. In the crystalline phase tetrahydrofuran molecules are hydrogen-bonded to the hydroxy groups: [Ga(1,2 -OC6H4OH)Cl2(C4H8O)]2. The reaction with pinacol also gives hydrogen and the analogous product [Ga(OCMe2CMe2OH)Cl2(C4H8O)]2. The structures of the two compounds have been determined by X-ray diffraction. A mechanism of the new reaction has been proposed which involves oxidative addition of the diol to the solvate (THF)Cl2Ga-GaCl2(THF) present in the tetrahydrofuran solution to give a gallium hydride intermediate.