Structural and spectroscopic studies of carbene and N-donor ligand complexes of Group 13 hydrides and halides

The syntheses of two Group 13 complexes of the sterically demanding carbene, 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene, (IPr), are reported, vis. [MX3(IPr)] M = Al, X = H; M = In, X = Br; both of which have been structurally characterised. Also reported is the crystal structure of the imidazolium salt [IPrH][InBr4], formed by the presence of adventitious water in the preparation of the [InBr3(IPr)] adduct. The preparation of the complex [InBr3(IMes)], IMes = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylpheny)imidazol-2-ylidene, is described as are details of its crystal structure analysis. In addition, two indium. tribromide adducts of nitrogen donor ligands, namely a bulky diazabutadiene and quinuclidine have been investigated. The crystal structures of N,N'-1,4-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)diazabutadiene indium tribromide and bis(quinuclidine)indium tribromide are reported. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.