Transition metal-catalyzed dissociation of phosphine-Gallane adducts: Isolation of mechanistic model complexes and heterogeneous catalyst poisoning studies

A mechanism involving the formation of Rh-Ga bonds on the Rh colloid surface based on the catalytic dehydrocoupling of a secondary phosphine-gallane adduct with either Rh(I) or Rh(0) leading to release of [H.sub.2] gas and decomposition to Ga(0) metal is presented.