SYNTHETIC AND STRUCTURAL STUDIES ON ORGANOTRANSITION METAL-GALLIUM COMPLEXES

The transition metal-gallium complexes [Ga(MLn)3] [where MLn = Fe(CO)2(eta-C5H5), Mo(CO)3(eta-C5H5), Co(CO)3(PPh3), and Mn(CO)5] have been synthesised by salt elimination between CaCl3 and M1(MLn) (M1 = Na/K). The iron complex [Ga{Fe(CO)2(eta-C5H5)}3] (1) has been characterised by X-ray crystallography and shown to contain a planar, three-coordinate gallium centre bound to three Fe(CO)2(eta-C5H5) fragments by unsupported Ga - Fe bonds [av. 2444(1) angstrom]. A partial structure determination of [Ga{Mo(CO)3(eta-C5H5)}3] (5) is consistent with a trigonal-planar GaMo3 core. Brief mention is also made of two chloro complexes [GaCl(MLn)2] [MLnFe(CO)2(eta-C5H5) and Co(CO)3(PPh3)].