Synthesis, characterization, and single crystal structure determination of an oxo-derivative of methylaluminum containing asymmetric carbon

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Mohammadnezhad, Gholamhossein | Amini, Mostafa M. | Khavasi, Hamidreza | Mirzaei, Peiman

Affiliations: Department of Chemistry, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Tehran, 1983963113, Iran

Note: [] Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

Abstract: Dimeric dimethylaluminum compound, {Me2Al[μ-OCH(CH3)CH2OCH3]}2, was synthesized by the reaction of trimethylaluminum and 1-methoxy-2-propanol, an alkoxyalcohol containing asymmetric carbon, and characterized by 1H, 13C, and 27Al NMR spectroscopy. The 1-methoxy-2-propoxodimethylaluminum, as shown by the single crystal structure determination, exists as a dimer in the solid-state in which the ether alkoxide ligand chelates to the aluminum atom. The solution structure was probed by 1H, 13C, and 27Al NMR spectroscopy and the results showed that the five-coordinate isomer is in equilibrium with the four-coordinate isomer. However, variable-temperature 27Al NMR spectroscopy showed only the presence of five-coordinate isomer at −15°C and below.

Keywords: organoaluminum, aluminum alkoxide, alkoxyalcohol, crystal structure

DOI: 10.1080/10241220902811282

Journal: Main Group Chemistry, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 323-331, 2008