Synthesis of the Square-Planar Gallium Species K2[Ga4(C6H3-2,6-Trip2)2] (Trip=C6H2-2,4,6-iPr3): The Role of Aryl–Alkali Metal Ion Interactions in the Structure of Gallium Clusters

Unlike the reduction of [Ga-2,6-Trip2C6H3]Cl2 with sodium which produces the controversial “gallyne” Na2[(Ga-2,6-Trip2C6H3)2], reduction with potassium gives K2[Ga4(2,6-Trip2C6H3)2] (see structure). This suggests that the alkali metal countercations play an important role in stabilizing these species. Trip=2,4,6-iPr3C6H2.