Synthesis, properties and structures of Gallium(III) and Indium(III) halide complexes with neutral pnictine coordination

Abstract A series of Group 13 halide complexes of SbnBu3, [GaX3(SbnBu3)] and [InX3(SbnBu3)] (X = Cl, Br, I) have been prepared by reaction of the appropriate trihalide with SbnBu3 in n-hexane or CH2Cl2 solution, and characterised by microanalysis, IR, 1H, 13C{1H} and 71Ga NMR spectroscopy. X-Ray crystal structures are reported for [InX3(SbnBu3)] (X = Cl, Br) and [GaX3(SbnBu3)]. Similar pseudo-tetrahedral complexes of AsEt3, [GaCl3(AsEt3)], [InCl3(AsEt3)] and the five-coordinate [InCl3(AsEt3)2] were also obtained and their structures determined. Attempts to use [InCl3(SbR3)] and [GaCl3(SbR3)] (R = nBu, Et) as single source precursors for low pressure CVD growth of InSb or GaSb films were unsuccesful, instead producing elemental antimony, while [GaCl3(AsEt3)] and [InCl3(AsEt3)] failed to produce any deposition under similar conditions.