Synthesis of Lewis acid-base adducts between potassium dihydrogenpnictogenides and group 13 Lewis acids.

Lewis acid-base adducts between potassium dihydrogenpnictogenides [K(18c6)PnH2] (Pn = P, As) and Trialkylgallanes (GaMe3, GaEt3, GatBu3) as well as BH3 were synthesized. In the course of these investigations, we were able to fully characterize a row of compounds of the type [K(18c6)(thf)0‑2][PnH2(ER3)2] (E = B: R = H; E = Ga: R = Me, Et, tBu). Based on the successful syntheses of these species, we also synthesized several compounds of the composition [K(18c6)(thf)0‑2][Pn(SiMe3)2(ER3)n] (n = 1, 2) starting from [KPn(SiMe3)2] (Pn = P and As) and ER3 (E = B, Al, In: R = Me; E = Ga: R= Me, Et, tBu). All isolated compounds, were examined by NMR spectroscopy, infra-red spectroscopy and elemental analysis. A selection of the compounds presented were also examined by means of X-ray structure analysis on the single crystal. The obtained adducts of negatively charged [PnH2]- and [Pn(SiMe3)2]- fragments with Lewis acids are a class of compounds that has scarcely been investigated to date.