Reactions of benzopinacol with group 13 alkyl metals:: Crystal structure of Me6In4[OC(C6H5)2C(C6H5)2O]2(OCH3)2, a new alkylalkoxo indium diolate

Reactions of Me5Al3[OC(C6H5)2C(C6H5)2O]2 (1) with alcohols ROH (R = Me, Et, tBu) in a 1:1 molar ratio afforded the compound Me2Al2[OC(C6H5)2C(C6H5)2O]2(C4H8O) (2) and a mixture of methylaluminum alkoxides. The alcohols acted as the factor formally eliminating a molecule of Me3Al (as a methylaluminum alkoxide) from compound 1. tBu3Al reacted with an equimolar amount of benzopinacol to form the monomeric complex tBuAl[OC(C6H5)2C(C6H5)2O](C4H8O) (3). Reactions of Me3Ga and Me3In with benzopinacol yielded trinuclear complexes Me5M3[OC(C6H5)2C(C6H5)2O]2 (4 (M = Ga), 5 (M = In)), isostructural to compound 1. In the presence of water and alcohols, compounds 4 and 5 underwent a decomposition reaction to benzopinacol and a mixture of metalloxanes and alkoxides. An unusual methylmethoxo indium benzopinacolate Me6In4[OC(C6H5)2C(C6H5)2O]2(OCH3)2 (6) was obtained in the reaction of benzopinacol with Me3In and Me2InOMe in a 1:1:1 molar ratio. Molecular structures of the compounds 3, 4 and 6 were determined by X-ray crystallography.

tBu3Al reacted with an equimolar amount of benzopinacol to form a monomeric complex tBuAl[OC(C6H5)2C(C6H5) 2O](C4H8O) (3). Reactions of Me3Ga and Me3In with benzopinacol afforded trinuclear complexes Me5M3[OC(C6H5)2C(C6H5)2O]2 (4 (M = Ga), 5 (M = In)). In the presence of water and alcohols, compounds 4 and 5 underwent a decomposition reaction to benzopinacol and mixtures of metalloxanes and alkoxides. An unusual methylmethoxo indium benzopinacolate Me6In4[OC(C6H5)2C(C6H5)2O]2(OCH3)2 (6) was obtained in the reaction of benzopinacol with of Me3In and Me2InOMe in a 1:1:1 molar ratio.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide