Reactions of cationic transition metal acetonitrile complexes [M(CH ₃CN)_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(CH ₃CN)₆][BAr^F]₂ (BAr^F = [B{C₆H₃(CF₃)₂}₄) with GaCp* leads to [Cp*Fe(GaCp*)₃][BAr^F] (1) via a redox neutral Cp* transfer and [Ga₂Cp*][BAr ^F] as a by-product while the formation of [Cp*Co(GaCp*) ₃][BAr^F]₂ (2) from [Co(CH₃CN) ₆][BAr^F]₂ is accompanied by oxidation of Co(II) to Co(III) with GaCp* as the oxidant. The reactions of [Cu(CH ₃CN)₄][BAr^F] and Ag[BPh₄] with GaCp* lead to the formation of the homoleptic compounds [Cu(GaCp*)₄][BAr^F] (4) and [Ag(GaCp*) ₄][BPh₄] (5), while treatment of Ag[CF₃SO ₃] with GaCp* leads to the dimeric complex [Ag ₂(GaCp*)₃(μ-GaCp*)₂][CF ₃SO₃]₂ (6). All compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis.