Hydride-bridged heterobimetallic complexes of gallium and zinc: the first X-ray structural determination of the gah4–moiety

Abstract

Reaction of 2 equivalents of LiGaH₄ or 1 equivalent of NaGaH₄ with [ZnCl₂(pmdeta)](pmdeta =N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) in diethyl ether at 0 °C gives the heterobimetallic species, [Zn(η¹-GaH₄) Cl (pmdeta)]1, whereas reaction of [M′GaH₄] with [ZnCl₂(tmen)](tmen =N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylenediamine) in 2 : 1 (M′= Li) or 1 : 1 (M′= Na)·molar ratio, gives [Zn(η²-GaH₄) Cl (tmen)]2; the analogous [Zn(η²-BH₄)(Cl(tmen)]3 is prepared from reaction with 2 molar equivalents of LiBH₄ or with 1 equivalent of NaBH₄; complexes 1 and 3 are structurally characterised, the former represents the first reported structure of the GaH₄ moiety.