A homoleptic rare-earth-metal tetramethylindate.

The homoleptic complex La(InMe) is obtained from the respective aluminium congener La(AlMe) a donor-assisted tetramethylaluminate/tetramethylindate exchange protocol. Compound La(InMe) exhibits interesting thermal lability as well as distinct cluster formation like LaIn(C)(CH)(CH)(CH) and LaIn(CH)(CH) upon addition of an excess of donor or thermal treatment. The neutral potentially tridentate ligand MeTACN (1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) is used to investigate donor-triggered intermediates. Compound La(InMe) is the first crystallographically characterized homoleptic rare-earth-metal tetramethylindate and may readily be used as a precursor for follow-up chemistry distinct from La(AlMe) and La(GaMe).