[2,6-Mes2C6H3]2Ga+Li[Al{OCH(CF3)2}4]2- (Mes=2,4,6-Me3C6H2):: A compound containing a linear unsolvated two-coordinate gallium cation

The title compound [2,6-Mes2C2H3]2Ga+Li[Al{OCH(CF3)2}4]2-, 1, containing a linear two-coordinate gallium cation, has been obtained by metathesis reaction of [2,6-Mes2C2H3]2GaCl with 2 equiv of Li[Al{OCH(CF3)2}4] in C6H5Cl solution at room temperature. Compound 1 has been characterized by 1H, 13C(1H}, 19F, and 27Al NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Compound 1 consists of isolated [2,6-Mes2C6H3]2Ga+ cations and Li[Al{OCH(CF3)2}4]2- anions. The C-Ga-C angle is 175.69(7)°, and the Ga-C distances are 1.9130(14) and 1.9145(16) Å. The title compound is remarkably stable, is only a weak Lewis acid, and polymerizes cyclohexene oxide. Copyright © 2003 American Chemical Society.