Gallium Trichloride

Introduction

Like some of the other group 13 trihalides (not Al, In, and Tl), galliumtrichloride has a (bridged dimer) molecular lattice as shown (Figure 1).

The dimmer molecules are arranged in sheets. The low intermolecular forces are responsible for the low mp (77.9 °C, the lowest of the Al, Ga, In, and Tl trihalides). [1] GaCl₃ is evidently a weaker acid then AlCl₃. Its application in organic synthesis has been known for a long time e.g. in the Fridel-Crafts synthesis of benzophenone from benzene and benzoyl chloride GaCl3 results in a faster reaction than AlCl₃, [2] the reaction of benzene with alkyl halides is also quicker with gallium. [3]

References

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