Synthesis of a Gallaarsene {HC[C(Me)N-2,6‑i‑Pr2‑C6H3]2}GaAsCp* Containing a GaAs Double Bond

Cp*AsCl2 (Cp* = C5Me5) reacts with one equivalent of LGa (L = HC­[C­(Me)­N­(2,6-i-Pr2C6H3)]2) with formation of L­(Cl)­GaAs­(Cl)­Cp* 1, whereas the reaction with two equivalents of LGa yielded gallaarsene LGaAsCp* 2 containing a GaAs double bond and (η1-Ga­(Cp*)­L­(η2-GaL)­(μ-As3) 3. Compounds 2 and 3 were structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, and the π-bonding contribution in 2 was analyzed by temperature-dependent 1H NMR spectroscopy (9.65 kcal mol–1) and by quantum mechanical computation.