Synthesis and redox activity of carbene-coordinated group 13 metal radicals

Abstract

Carbenes are known to stabilize main group element compounds with unusual electronic properties. Herein, we report the synthesis of carbene-stabilized group 13 metal radicals (cAAC)MX₂(IPr) (M = Al, X = Br 3; M = Ga, X = Cl 4) and the corresponding cations [(cAAC)MX₂(IPr)][B(C₆F₅)₄] (M = Al, X = Br 5; M = Ga, X = Cl 6), which were characterized spectroscopically and by sc-XRD. Quantum chemical calculation gave insights into their electronic structures.