Heterobimetallic lithium organoaluminum and organogallium complexes: potential single precursors for MOCVD of LiMO2 thin films

The reaction of Me2MCl with two equivalents of Li(OCH2CH2OMe) resulted in the formation of dimeric bimetallic complexes, [Li(OCH2CH2OMe)2MMe2]2 {M=Al (1), Ga (2)}. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 are dimeric and contain eight-membered rings that are similar to a beach chair consisting of a plane of four oxygen and two lithium atoms with each aluminum or gallium metal atom above and below this plane. Thermal analysis of 2 indicates that the dimeric complexes are volatile enough to be suitable as potential single precursors for metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of LiMO2 films.