Reactions between the gallium ‘dihalides’ and ethanol

Abstract

The reaction between Ga₂X₄(X = Cl or Br) and ethanol is complex. Results indicate that at 0 °C the principal reaction is, Ga₂X₄+ 3EtOH → Ga(OEt)₂X + GaX₃,EtOH + H₂ and at 25 °C, Ga₂X₄+ 2EtOH → 2Ga(OEt)X₂+ H₂ Cryoscopic molecular-weight, mass-spectra, and ¹H n.m.r. data show that the monoethoxygallium dihalides occur in at least three forms: tetramer, trimer, and dimer. The tetramer (which is thought to contain six-co-ordinate gallium) is thermally unstable and is readily converted to lower forms.