An organogallium subfluoride and subhydroxide: three Ga–Ga bonds in single molecules

Abstract

Treatment of the digallium compound R2Ga-GaR2 1 [R = CH(SiMe3)2] with hydrogen fluoride or water in the presence of 2-aminonicotinic acid afforded the corresponding fluoride or hydroxide, R(X)Ga-Ga(X)R (X = F, OH), by substituent exchange and retainment of the Ga-Ga bonds. Both compounds form trimeric formula units in which three Ga-Ga bonds in a parallel orientation are bridged by six fluoro or hydroxo ligands.