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

Abstract

Treatment of the digallium compound R₂Ga–GaR₂1 [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.