Tris(1-methyl-imidazol-2-yl)phosphane Complexes of Pnictogen, Tetrel, and Triel Cations

cations gallium indium nitrogen ligands pnictogens tetrelThe synthesis and characterization of salts with the generic formula [P(Im) M][OTf] (Im=1-methyl-imidazol-2-yl; M=P, As or Sb and x=3; M=Ge or Sn and x=2) are reported. In all cases, the cations adopt a cage structure with two chemically and energetically distinct apical lone pairs. In contrast, complexes of gallium and indium engage two P(Im) ligands resulting in a distorted octahedral geometry for the triel center in compounds of the generic formula [{P(Im) } M][OTf] (M=Ga or In). An assessment of the acidity and basicity of the new compounds is presented.