Dimethylindium hydrazides [Me2In-NH-NHR]2 (R = CMe3, C6H5)

Trimethylindium reacted with phenyl- and tert-butylhydrazine by the release of methane and the formation of the corresponding dimethylindium hydrazides (1 and 2, respectively). Both products form dimers and possess four-membered In2N2 heterocycles with two exocyclic N–N bonds in their molecular cores. Interestingly, one compound (1) crystallizes with centrosymmetric molecules in which the N–N bonds are located on different sides of the In2N2 ring (C2h), while both N–N bonds are on the same side in 2 (C2v). In contrast, the reaction of tri(tert-butyl)indium with tert-butylhydrazine yielded a quite unexpected product. Partial decomposition occurred, and in a low yield the adduct of tribenzylindium with the unchanged tert-butylhydrazine was isolated. In a remarkable reaction, the trialkylindium derivative did not react with the relatively acidic hydrazine, but by the release of the corresponding alkane with the solvent toluene.