Reactions of cationic transition metal acetonitrile complexes [M(CH3CN)n]m+ with GaCp*: novel gallium complexes of iron, cobalt, copper and silver

The reactions of the cationic transition metal acetonitrile complexes [M(CH3CN)(n)](m+) (m = 2: M = Fe, Co and m = 1: M = Cu, Ag) with GaCp* were investigated. The reaction of [Fe(CH3CN)(6)][BArF](2) (BArF = [B{C6H3(CF3)(2)}(4)) with GaCp* leads to [Cp*Fe(GaCp*)(3)][BArF] (1) via a redox neutral Cp* transfer and [Ga2Cp*][BArF] as a by-product while the formation of [Cp*Co(GaCp*)(3)][BArF](2) (2) from [Co(CH3CN)(6)][BArF](2) is accompanied by oxidation of Co(II) to Co(III) with GaCp* as the oxidant. The reactions of [Cu(CH3CN)(4)][BArF] and Ag[BPh4] with GaCp* lead to the formation of the homoleptic compounds [Cu(GaCp*)(4)][BArF] (4) and [Ag(GaCp*)(4)][BPh4] (5), while treatment of Ag[CF3SO3] with GaCp* leads to the dimeric complex [Ag-2(GaCp*)(3)(mu-GaCp*)(2)][CF3SO3](2) (6). All compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis.