PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF TRIMETHYL METAL COMPOUNDS
Process for the preparation of a trimethyl metal compound with the formula M(CH 3 ) 3 , said process comprising the step of reacting a trialkyl metal compound of the formula M(R) 3 with trimethyl aluminium [AI(CH 3 ) 3 ] to form said trimethyl metal compound with the formula M(CH 3 ) 3 , wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Ga and In, and R is a linear or branched alkyl group with 2 to 8 carbon atoms.
1 . Process for the preparation of a trimethyl metal compound with the formula M(CH 3 ) 3 , said process comprising the step of reacting a trialkyl metal compound of the formula M(R) 3 with trimethyl aluminium [Al(CH 3 ) 3 ] to form said trimethyl metal compound with the formula M(CH 3 ) 3 ,
wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Ga and In, and R is a linear or branched alkyl group with 2 to 8 carbon atoms.
2 . Process according to claim 1 wherein said step is preceded by a step that involves the production of said trialkyl metal compound of the formula M(R) 3 by reacting a metal trihalide of the formula MX 3 with a trialkyl aluminium of the formula Al(R) 3 to form said trialkyl metal compound of the formula M(R) 3 and a dialkyl aluminium halide of the formula Al(R) 2 X.
3 . Process according to claim 2 wherein the process is conducted as a one-pot reaction, in which the metal trihalide MX 3 , the trialkyl aluminium Al(R) 3 , and trimethyl aluminium are added to a reactor to form the trimethyl metal compound M(CH 3 ) 3 .
4 . Process according to claim 2 , wherein the produced trialkyl metal compound M(R) 3 is isolated from the reaction mixture by distillation or crystallisation prior to its reaction with trimethyl aluminium (Al(CH 3 ) 3 ).
5 . Process according to claim 1 wherein the reaction is performed in continuous mode.
6 . Process according to claim 1 wherein M is Ga.
7 . Process according to claim 1 wherein R is selected from the group consisting of ethyl and linear or branched propyl and butyl groups.
8 . Process according to claim 7 wherein R is selected from the group consisting of ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, and isobutyl.
9 . Process according to claim 7 wherein R is ethyl.
10 . Process according to claim 1 wherein the trialkyl metal compound of the formula M(R) 3 is reacted with trimethyl aluminium (Al(CH 3 ) 3 ) to form the trimethyl metal compound with the formula M(CH 3 ) 3 and trialkyl aluminium with the formula Al(R) 3 .
11 . Process according to claim 10 wherein the produced trialkyl aluminium is re-used for the production of the trialkyl metal compound M(R) 3 in accordance with claim 2 .
12 . Process according to claim 1 wherein the produced trimethyl metal compound M(CH 3 ) 3 is isolated from the reaction mixture by distillation or crystallisation.