SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF THE TRIMESITYLINDIUM(III)-TETRAHYDROFURAN ADDUCT

The trimesitylindium(III)-tetrahydrofuran adduct, InMes3.THF, was prepared by reacting MesMgBr with a suspension of anhydrous InCl3 in Et2O. The compound has been characterized by IR, H-1 NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and its crystal structure has been determined by X-ray crystallography. The crystal is monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, with a = 8.503(5), b = 14.267(4), c = 22.709(4) angstrom and beta = 97.04(3) degrees. The structure has been refined to R = 0.037 based on 3409 observed reflexions. The compound is a distorted tetrahedron, with In-C distances of 2.221(2) angstrom (mean value) and an In-O distance of 2.414(4) angstrom. The complex loses the THF molecule by heating under vacuum giving InMes3.