Synthesis of dihalomethyl compounds of indium, X(2)InCHX(2), and a study of their coordination chemistry

Indium(I) halides, InX (X = Cl, Br, I), react with haloforms, CHX(3), to give X(2)InCHX(2) derivatives. Treatment of the latter with (C2H5)(4)N(+)X(-) gives the 1:1 electrolytes [(C2H5)(4)N][X(3)InCHX(2)], but with neutral ligands L (L = dimethylsulfoxide (dmso), 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-thiourea (tmtu), triphenylphosphine), the products were the adducts of the corresponding indium trihalide, InX(3)L(n) (X = Cl, L = tmtu, n = 2; X = Cl, L = Ph(3)P, n = 2; X = Cl, L = dmso, n = 3; X = Br, L = dmso, n = 3; X = I, L = Ph(3)P, n = 2: X = I, L = tmtu, n = 1). [(C2H5)(4)N][X(3)InCHX(2)] (X = Br, I) reacts with InX to give, after the addition of (C2H5)(4)NX, the salts [(C2H5)(4)N](2)[X(3)InCHXInX(3)].