A mononuclear indium(I) carbene analogue.

Area of Science:

• Organometallic Chemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Main Group Chemistry

Background:

• Low-coordinate main group compounds are of significant interest due to their unique bonding and reactivity.
• Indium(I) compounds are less explored compared to other low-valent main group species.
• Carbene analogues offer insights into bonding paradigms beyond traditional Lewis acid-base interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel two-coordinate indium(I) complex.
• To investigate the potential of indium(I) to form stable carbene analogue structures.
• To explore the reactivity and electronic properties of this unique indium species.

Main Methods:

• A one-pot reaction involving potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (K[N(SiMe(3))(2)]), indium(I) iodide (InI), and a beta-diimine ligand precursor ([H(NDippCMe)(2)CH]).
• Isolation and characterization of the resulting indium complex, [In[(NDippCMe)(2)CH]].
• Spectroscopic and structural analyses to confirm the coordination number and oxidation state of indium.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of the target compound [In[(NDippCMe)(2)CH]] via a facile one-pot procedure.
• The compound features a neutral, two-coordinate indium(I) center stabilized by the beta-diimine ligand.
• This represents the first reported example of a neutral, two-coordinate In(I) carbene analogue.

Conclusions:

• The beta-diimine ligand effectively stabilizes a low-coordinate indium(I) species, akin to a carbene analogue.
• This work expands the known structural diversity of indium compounds.
• The findings open avenues for exploring the chemistry of related low-coordinate main group elements.