Synthesis and structure of an alkylgallium bridged [1,1]ferrocenophane

A gallium bridged [1,1]ferrocenophane (2) was obtained by the reaction of 1,1′-dilithio ferrocene with the alkyltrichlorogallate [Li(THF)]+[R–GaCl3]− [R=CH(SiMe3)2] (1). The crystal structure determination of the orange–red compound 2 revealed two trigonal planar coordinated, coordinatively unsaturated bridging gallium atoms, each of which is attached to two carbon atoms of different ferrocene molecules and the inner carbon atom of the bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl substituent.