TETRAMERIC GALLIUM AND ALUMINUM CHALCOGENIDES, [TERT-BUME]4 (M = AL, GA, E = S, SE, TE) - A NEW CLASS OF HETEROCUBANES

Sulfur, selenium and tellurium react with tBu3Ga to give heterocubanes [tBuGa(mu-3-E)]4 (E = S (1), Se, Te). In analogous reactions with tBu3Al, the dimeric intermediates [tBu2Al(mu-2-EtBu)]2 can also be isolated; upon heating, these are converted into the corresponding cubanes. Such chalcogenides are not only of importance with regard to bond theory but also as starting materials for the preparation of layer compounds of elements of the 3rd and 5th main groups. [GRAPHICS]