Characteristic

Gallium(III) bromide (GaBr₃) is a chemical compound, and one of four gallium trihalides.

Chemical formula：GaBr₃

Molar mass：309.435 g/mol

Appearance：white powder

Density：3.69 g/cm³

Melting point：121.5 °C (250.7 °F; 394.6 K)

Boiling point：278.8 °C (533.8 °F; 552.0 K)

Solubility in water：soluble

Application

GaBr₃ is used as a catalyst in organic synthesis, with similar mechanism to GaCl₃ however due to its greater reactivity, it is sometimes disfavored because of the greater versatility of GaCl₃. GaBr₃ as well as other gallium trihalides and group 13 metal trihalides can be used as catalysts in the oxidative addition of organic compounds. It has been verified that the GaBr3 dimer cleaves unevenly into [GaBr₄]⁻ and [GaBr₂]⁺. The entire mechanism is uncertain partly because intermediate states are not always stable enough for study, and partially because GaBr₃ is studied less frequently than GaCl₃. Ga(III) itself is a useful Lewis acid for organic reactions because its full d-electron shell makes it able to accept variable numbers of ligands, but will readily give up ligands if conditions prove favorable.