Synthesis and molecular structure of tris(pentamethylphenyl)gallium

Tris(pentamethylphenyl)gallium, (Me5C6)3Ga, was prepared by reaction of pentamethylphenylmagnesium bromide with gallium(III) chloride in diethyl ether. The title compound, characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, elemental analyses, and single crystal X-ray diffraction, crystallizes in the P 1 (No. 2) space group with a=9.003(9) A, b=10.713(1) A, c=16.066(2) A, α=107.63 (3)°, β=97.63 (3)°, γ=90.08(3)°, for Z=2. Refinement converged at R1=0.050, wR2=0.11. The pentamethylphenyl ligands are configured about the gallium center in a propeller fashion at angles of 67.3°, 62.3°, and 60.9°.