An Alternative Synthesis of Cyclotrigallazane, [H2GaNH2]3, a Precursor to Nanocrystalline, Phase-Inhomogeneous Gallium Nitride, GaN

The reaction system LiGaH4/NH4X (X = Cl, Br) in Et2O was studied as an alternative route to cyclotrigallazane, [H2GaNH2]3, an advantageous precursor to nanocrystalline GaN. A high yield of the cyclotrigallazane was obtained for X = Cl. The compound slowly decomposed at ambient conditions with the evolution of H2 and NH3 and converted to a polymeric solid. Both the cyclotrigallazane and the polymeric product were pyrolyzed to yield the rare cubic/hexagonal variety of GaN.