Chemistry of Indium(III) Tris(cyclopentadienide). Reactions with Diphenylphosphine,tert-Butyl Alcohol, and Acetylacetone. Cyclopentadiene and Reductive Elimination Reactions

Indium(III) tris(cyclopentadienide) In(C 5 H 5 ) 3 reacts with diphenylphosphine at room temperature to form the indium(I) derivative In(C 5 H 5 ), P 2 Ph 4, and C 5 H 6 . These products are consistent with the occurrence of an initial cyclopentadiene elimination reaction between In(C 5 H 5 ) 3 and HPPh 2 and then reduction at indium. In contrast, tert -butyl alcohol undergoes a typical stoichiometric cyclopentadiene elimination reaction with In(C 5 H 5 ) 3 to form [(C 5 H 5 ) 2 InO( t -Bu)] 2 . Acetylacetone (Hacac) also reacts with In(C 5 H 5 ) 3, but the expected product(s) of the cyclopentadiene elimination reactions (C 5 H 5 ) 2 In(acac) and (C 5 H 5 )In(acac) 2 are unstable and redistribute their ligands to form In(C 5 H 5 ) 3 and In(acac) 3, as appropriate. The reagent tert -butylamine does not eliminate cyclopentadiene when combined with In(C 5 H 5 ) 3 at room temperature.