Synthesis of Heterobimetallic Group 13 Compounds via Oxidative Addition Reaction of Gallanediyl LGa and InEt3

Equimolar amounts of LGa (L = [(2,6-i-Pr2-C6H3)­NC­(Me)]2CH) and InEt3 were found to react with insertion into the In–carbon bond and formation of LGa­(Et)­InEt2 (1), while in the presence of the N-heterocyclic carbene It-Bu [C­(Nt-Bu2CH)2], the base-stabilized compound LGa­(Et)­Et2In←It-Bu (2) was formed, which shows an abnormal binding mode of the NHC group. In addition, the reaction of InEt3 with two equivalents of LGa occurred with double insertion and formation of [LGa­(Et)]2InEt (3). 1–3 were characterized by heteronuclear NMR (1H, 13C) and IR spectroscopy, their solid-state structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray analyses, and their thermal stability was investigated by in situ NMR spectroscopy.