Synthesis and structure of an indium(I) “crown sandwich”

The treatment of the soluble reagent indium(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate, InOTf, with the crown ether 15-crown-5 generates the salt [In(15-crown-5)2][OTf] regardless of the stoichiometry employed. The toluene-soluble salt has been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and features a cation that may be described as containing an InI center that is “sandwiched” by the two crown ethers.