An unprecedented mode of ligation for a bridged amido-cyclopentadienide (constrained geometry) ligand; (pi)-olefinic interactions with gallium and indium

The surprising reaction of GaCl3 or InBr3 with the di-Grignard reagent [Me2Si(C5Me4)(N-t-Bu)](MgCl)2·THF results in salts of the bimetallic anions of composition [X3M{C5Me4(N-t-Bu)}MX2]–(M = Ga, X = Cl; M = In; X = Br) in which the MX2 moiety undergoes an (eta)2-interaction with one of the double bonds of the localized cyclopentadienide ring.