Like GaCp*, GaCp can also coordinate to transition metal complexes such as Cr(CO)5(cyclooctene) or Co2(CO)8 to yield CpGa–Cr(CO)5 or (thf)GaCp{Co(CO)4}2. For CpGa–Cr(CO)5, the Ga-Cr bond length (239.6 pm) is similar to that for a GaCp* analogue (240.5 pm). For this complex, the trans effect is also observed, where the Cr-CO bond trans to the GaCp ligand is contracted (186 pm) relative to the cis Cr-CO bonds (189.5 pm). While GaCp can act as a terminal ligand similar to GaCp*, it was determined that GaCp analogues react faster than their GaCp* counterparts. This can be attributed to the lower steric bulk of GaCp, and Naglav and coworkers have suggested that working at lower temperatures can help access stable complexes with GaCp ligands.
