The new amidophenolate gallium(III) complex and its reactivity towards dioxygen

The new gallium(III) complex based on sterically hindered 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl)-o-iminobenzoquinone (imQ) was synthesized and characterized in details. The [4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl)-o-amidophenolato]methylgallium(III) (1) was found to be reactive towards molecular oxygen. This reaction results in the oxidation of redox active o-amidophenolate ligand to the o-iminosemiquinolate one. The new diradical compound bis-[4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl)-o-iminobenzosemiquinonato]methylgallium(III) (2) was found as the main product of this reaction. Molecular structures of complexes 1 and 2 were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.