INDIUM COMPLEXES OF 1,3-DIPHENYLTRIAZENE

The reaction of InCl3 with 1,3-diphenyltriazene (Hdpt) in the presence of NEt3 gives the six-co-ordinate indium complex [NHEt3][InCl2(dPt)2] 1a. The interaction of 1a with [NEt4]Cl and [N(PPh3)2]Cl allows for the isolation of the appropriate salts, [NEt4][InCl2(dPt)2] 1b and [N(PPh3)2][InCl2(dpt)2] 1c. Reaction of Lewis bases, L, with 1a yields [InCl2(dpt)L2], L = pyridine 2, 3,5-dimethylpyridine 3, PEt3 4, L2 = 2,2'-bipyridine 5, 1,10-phenanthroline 6, Me2PCH2CH2PMe2 7 or Et2PCH2CH2PEt2 8. The mechanism for these reactions is discussed. No reaction is observed between 1b and 3,5-dimethylpyridine. The X-ray structures of 1a, 3, 4 and 5 have been determined. Compounds 2-4 are readily soluble in aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, while 5-8 are insoluble as a consequence of the presence of a supramolecular architecture involving dipolar In-Cl ... N interactions in the solid state. All new compounds have been characterised by H-1, C-13-{H-1} and P-31-{H-1} NMR and IR spectroscopy.