Oxidative transformations of amidophenolate complexes of gallium(III)

The oxidation of the earlier synthesized [4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-o-amidophenolato]methylgallium(III) (1a) and [4,6-di-tert-butyl-N- (2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-o-amidophenolato]iodogallium(III) (1b) by different reagents, such as mercury(II) salts, molecular iodine, and tetramethylthiuram disulfide, was studied. The oxidation of the starting diamagnetic compounds gives pentacoordinated gallium(III) bis-o-iminosemiquinolates 4-7 as the major products, which are generated as a result of the further disproportionation of intermediate monoradical tetracoordinated metal complexes.