Synthesis and structures of a pentanuclear Al(III) phosphonate cage, an In(III) phosphonate polymer, and coordination compounds of the corresponding phosphonate ester with GaI3 and InCl3.

A cationic, pentanuclear aluminium phosphonate cage, [L(4)Al(5)Cl(6)(THF)(6)]Cl, 1, supported by (phthalimidomethyl) phosphonate, (L), has been synthesized and characterized. This polynuclear cage features the phosphonate ligand in an unusual coordination mode, supporting five aluminium atoms in two different environments. In comparison, the aqueous reaction of LH(2) with In(ClO(4))(3) afforded [{(LH)In(H(2)O)}(H(2)O)(2)(ClO(4))](n), 2, an indium(III) phosphonate coordination polymer, that has been crystallographically characterized. Reactions of the corresponding phosphonate ester, diethyl (phthalimidomethyl) phosphonate, (L'), with GaI(3) and InCl(3) afforded the simple coordination complexes, [L'·GaI(3)], 3, and [L'·InCl(3)(THF)], 4.