Steven R. Aubuchon

Synthesis and Complete Characterization of a Gallium-Mixed-Pnicogen Four-Membered-Ring Compound:

The first four-membered ring compound containing two gallium atoms bridged by two different Group 15 elements. (1), to be completely characterized was synthesized by both the equilibration of [I2G a As (SiMe3)2]2 (2) and [I2GaP(SiMe3)2]2 (3) in a 1 : 1 mole ratio and the direct reaction of GaI3 with As (SiMe3)3 and P(SiMe3)3 in a 2 : 1 : 1 mole ratio. Single-crystal X-ray structures were determined for both 1 and 3. Crystals of 1 belong to the orthorhombic system, space group Pbca, with a = 17.349(3), b = 13.9187(21), c = 13.7570(24) A, V = 3322.0(10) A3, D calc = 1.879 g cm−3 for Z = 4; the average Ga-As/P bond length is 2.44 A, and crystals of 1 are isomorphous with those of 2. Crystals of 3 belong to the monoclinic system, space group P21/c, with a = 11.040(9), b = 10.228(4), c = 19.619(9) A V = 2169.4(22) A3, D calc = 1.816 g cm−3 for Z = 4; the average Ga-P bond length is 2.39 A.