N-Heterocyclic Carbene Stabilized Aluminum Alkyls and Their Reactivity toward NHC-Alanes

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Herein, we report the synthesis of several new NHC-stabilized aluminum alkyl species [NHCAlR 3 ] (for NHC = ICy, R = Me, i Bu; NHC = IMes and IDip, R = i Bu) via coordination of the respective free carbene to AlMe 3 or Al i Bu 3 . Attempts to access Al–Al bonded species (dialumanes) via reactions with the respective NHCAlH 3 complexes did not yield the desired Al(II) complexes via R-H elimination, instead yielding the R/H ligand scrambled complexes NHCAlR 2 H and NHCAlRH 2, respectively. These mixed-ligand species were characterized by 1 H, 13 C{ 1 H}, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, with select cases characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.