Origin and Location of Electrons and Protons during the Formation of Intermetalloid Clusters [Sm@Ga _{3− <i>x</i>} H _{3−2 <i>x</i>} Bi _{10+ <i>x</i>} ] ³⁻ ( <i>x</i> =0, 1)

Abstract

Reaction of [GaBi3](2-) with [Sm(C5Me4H)3] yielded the first protonated ternary intermetalloid clusters [Sm@Ga(3-x)H(3-2x)Bi(10+x)](3-) (1; x = 0,1). The presence of the Ga-H bonds and the transfer of electrons and protons during the formation of 1 were elucidated by a combination of experimental and quantum chemical methods, thereby rationalizing the role of the solvent ethane-1,2-diamine as a Brønsted acid. As an organic by-product, we observed the previously unknown octamethylfulvene (2) upon C-C coupling of (C5Me4H)(-).