Indium(III) bromide, (indium tribromide), InBr3, is a chemical compound of indium and bromine. It is a Lewis acid and has been used in organic synthesis.
Structure It has the same crystal structure as aluminium trichloride, with 6 coordinate indium atoms."Indium: Inorganic chemistry", D.G Tuck, Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry Editor R Bruce King (1994) John Wiley and Sons When molten it is dimeric, In2Br6, and predominantly dimeric in the gas phase. The dimer has bridging bromine atoms with a structure similar to dimeric aluminium trichloride Al2Cl6.
Preparation and reactions It is formed by the reaction of indium and bromine.Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holleman (2001) Inorganic Chemistry, Elsevier InBr3 forms complexes with ligands, L, InBr3L, InBr3L2, InBr3L3.
Reaction with indium metal forms lower valent indium bromides, InBr2, In4Br7, In2Br3, In5Br7, In7Br9, indium(I) bromide. In refluxing xylene solution InBr3 and In metal react to form InBr2.
References
External links Indium tribromide at WebElements