Main group metal halide complexes with sterically hindered thioureas XVI: The synthesis, characterization, and crystal structures of two new complexes of 1,3-dimethyl-2(3H)-imidazolethione with indium trihalides

In an attempt to make complexes analogous to the bis-dmit adducts of Group 15 trihalides [dmit=1,3-dimethyl-2(3H)-imidazolethione], two new trihalide complexes of In(III) were synthesized and characterized. The crystal and molecular structures for both of these compounds showed a distorted trigonal bipyramidal configuration with the thiones and one halide occupying equatorial positions and the two remaining halides arranged in a near-linear X–In–X axial grouping (X=Cl, Br). This stands in contrast to the dimeric distorted octahedral structures observed for BiCl3(dmit)2 and SbCl3(dmit)2. The far-infrared and laser-Raman spectra as well as solution state proton and solid state 13C NMR spectra are reported.