Cp*GaCl2 and Cp*2GaCl (Cp*=η1-C5Me5) as starting materials for novel Group 13 element complexes

Reactions of Cp*GaCl2 and Cp*2GaCl (Cp*=η1-C5Me5), respectively, with different carbonylmetalate anions are compared to yield the transition-metal–gallium complexes [(η5-Cp*Ga)W(CO)5] (1), [Fe2(CO)6{μ-(η5-Cp*Ga)}2{μ-(η3-Cp*Ga)}] (2), [Ga{Mn(CO)5}3] (3), [Cp*2Ga{Mn(CO)5}] (4), [Co2(CO)6{μ-(η5-Cp*Ga)}2Co(CO)3] (5) and [{(η5-Cp)Fe(CO)}2(μ-CO){μ2-(η5-Cp*Ga}] (6). The results show that both starting materials offer an alternative synthetic route to subvalent Cp*Ga(I) compounds via reductive dehalogenation reactions in comparison to the previously used reactions starting from Cp*Ga itself. Starting from Cp*2GaCl, Cp* elimination reactions are observed additionally, a process which dominates much more in the case of Cp*InCl2 as a starting material. In these reactions with [CpFe(CO)2]− and [CpW(CO)3]−, [In{CpFe(CO)2}3] (7) and [In{CpW(CO)3}3] (8), respectively, are obtained in good yield.