Dimethylindium octahydrotriborate, Me2InB3H3: synthesis, crystal structure and spectroscopic properties of a volatile indium hydride

Abstract

Reaction between trimethylindium and tetraborane(10) at room temperature yields the volatile, viscous liquid dimethylindium octahydrotriborate, the first reported example of a volatile indium hydride; spectroscopic properties of the vapour indicate a molecular structure akin to that of Me₂A1B₃H₈ although the crystal structure implies a more ionic formulation, [Me₂In]+[B₃H₈]^–, with the coordination at each indium centre being augmented via secondary intermolecular interactions with terminal hydrogen atoms.