Dimethylindium octahydrotriborate, Me(2)InB(3)H(8): Synthesis, crystal structure and spectroscopic properties of a volatile indium hydride

Reaction between trimethylindium and tetraborane(10) at room temperature yields the volatile, viscous liquid dimethylindium octahydrotriborate, the first reported example of a volatile indium hydride; spectroscopic properties of the vapour indicate a molecular structure akin to that of Me(2)AlB(3)H(8), although the crystal structure implies a more ionic formulation, [Me(2)In](+)[B3H8](-), with the coordination at each indium centre being augmented via secondary intermolecular interactions with terminal hydrogen atoms.