Organoindium chemistry II. Derivatives of dimethylindium(III) and methylindium(III)

The synthesis and stereochemistry of several classes of organoindium derivatives are described. Four-coordination about indium, in a distorted tetrahedral stereochemistry, is most common, and occurs in a series of 1:1 complexes of Lewis bases with dimethylindium halides and in two organoindium anions, dimethylindium dichloride and tetramethylindate. These new organoindium derivatives are similar to analogous aluminium and gallium compounds. 1:1 Complexes of dimethylindium halides with bidentate ligands (1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2′-bipyridine) were synthesized and probably contain five-coordinate indium. Several methylindium dichloride derivatives were synthesized and the parent compound is compared to the gallium and thallium analogues.