Isolable ArInH: Double Hydroindation Agent.

Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

The reaction of the P,C,P-pincer indium(III) chloride ArInClwith 2 eq. of K[BEtH] provided crystalline monomeric indane ArInH(1) (Ar = 2,6-(tBuPO)CH) bearing two terminal In─H bonds. Indane 1 is a multitalented reagent that serves as a reductant toward dichalcogenides (PhE)giving ArIn(EPh)(2E, E = S, Se, Te) or a hydride source in reaction with 4-CF-CHOH that gives mono- or disubstituted indium phenolates ArIn(H)(4-CF-CHO) (3), ArIn(4-CF-CHO)(4) depending on stoichiometry. Most importantly, 1 is an unprecedented double hydroindation agent, as illustrated by its reactions with aldehydes 4-R-CHCHO (R = OMe, CF, F) yielding ArIn(4-R-CHCHO)(5R) or ketene PhC═C═O providing ArIn(PhC═CH─O)(6).