9-Triptycenyl complexes of group 13 and 15 halides and hydrides

The reactions of 9-lithiotriptycene with AlCl3, GaCl3 and InBr3 have been carried out and have yielded the complexes, [(tript)AlCl2(OEt2)], [(tript)GaCl2(THF)] and [(tript)InBr(μ-Br)2Li(OEt2)2], tript=9-triptycenyl. The latter two complexes have been structurally characterised. The corresponding reactions of 9-lithiotriptycene with ECl3 (E=P, As, Sb or Bi) afforded the complexes, [(tript)ECl2], of which all but the phosphorus compound have been crystallographically authenticated. In addition, the high yield syntheses of the thermally stable primary pnictanes [(tript)EH2] (E=As, Sb) have been achieved by reaction of the relevant halide complex with LiAlH4. The X-ray crystal structure of the antimony hydride complex is reported.