Reactions of Cu(I)Br with aziridine derivatives. Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of monomeric, dimeric and hexameric aziridine (= az) complexes of the formal type [CuBr(az)2]n (n = 1, 2) and [CuBr(az)]6

The first syntheses of monomeric and oligomeric aziridine complexes of copper(I) are described. Cu(I)Br (1) reacts with a series of different aziridine derivatives (C(2)H(3)PhNH (2), C(2)H(2)Me(2)NH (3), C(2)H(2)Me(2)NC(2)H(2)Me(2)NH(2) (4)) to give the neutral dimeric complex [CuBr(C(2)H(3)PhNH)(2)](2) (5) and the ionic hexameric complex [Cu(6)Br(5)(C(2)H(2)Me(2)NH)(6)]Br (6) with terminal bound aziridine ligands as well as the neutral monomeric complex [CuBr(C(2)H(2)Me(2)NC(2)H(2)Me(2)NH(2))] (7) where the dimerized aziridine acts as a N,N'-chelating ligand. After purification, all of the complexes were fully characterized and their IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra are reported and discussed. The single crystal structure analysis revealed distorted tetrahedral geometry for the copper(I) centres in the complexes 5 and 6 and a trigonal planar structure for complex 7. In the oligomers the copper centres are bridged by two μ(2)- (5) or two μ(3)- and three μ(4)-bromido ligands (6), respectively.

1,1,3,3-Tetramethylguanidine–gallane, (Me2N)2CN(H)·GaH3: an unusually strongly bound gallane adduct

The novel adduct 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine-gallane, (Me2N)2CN(H).GaH3, has been prepared by the reaction of [(Me2N)2CNH2]+Cl- with LiGaH4 in Et2O solution. Its spectroscopic properties indicate a monomeric species with an unusually strong coordinate link between the imido function and GaH3, an inference confirmed by the crystal structure at 150 K which also reveals significant secondary interactions through non-classical N-H...H-Ga bridges. Despite the intrinsic strength of the Ga-N bond, however, vaporisation at ca. 310 K occurs with partial dissociation, and decomposition via more than one pathway proceeds at temperatures >330-350 K to give a variety of products, including the free base, Me2NH, H2, and a novel gallium-nitrogen compound composed of a Ga4N4 cubane-like core bridged on three edges by -N{C(NMe2)2}GaH2- units.