Synthesis and Characterization of [Ar′GaC(Ph)CH]2 and K2[Ar′GaC(Ph)CH]2⋅OEt2: From Digallene to Digallacyclohexadiene to Digallatabenzene

On a plane: Addition of PhCCH to Ar'GaGaAr' (Ar' = 2,6-(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3))(2)C(6)H(3)) yielded the 1,4-digallacyclohexadiene [{Ar'GaC(Ph)CH}(2)] (1), which afforded the 1,4-digallatabenzene dianion [Ar'GaC(Ph)CH](2)(2-) (2) upon reduction with potassium (see scheme; C gray, Ga green, K blue). Structural parameters, DFT calculations, and (1)H NMR spectroscopy support aromatic character of 2.