Molecular Interaction and Conductivity of Aluminum Bromide in Alkyl Benzenes

The interaction of with alkylbenzene solvents has been studied by UV‐visible spectroscopy. Low branched alkylbenzenes were found to form a closed dimer complex which dissociates into an open dimer. The dissociation reaction is slow and the open dimer formed is responsible for the conductivity of the electrolyte. The more basic solvents were found to generate a monomeric complex (aluminum cation) which is responsible for the electrodeposition of aluminum. The quantity of each species was determined in the solvents: toluene, m‐xylene, and 1,2,4‐trimethylbenzene. Toluene was found to form the most conductive solutions and 1,2,4‐trimethylbenzene the largest amount of aluminum cations.