Synthesis and structures of sterically crowded aryloxide-substituted aluminium chloride

Abstract

The reaction of AlCl₃ with Li(OR′)·Et₂O (R′= C₆H₂Bu^t₃-2,4,6) in diethyl ether gave Al(OR′)Cl₂·Et₂O 1, a monomeric aryloxide compound of aluminium. Its reaction with 2 equivalents of potassium gave elemental aluminium and [Al(OEt)(OR′)₂]₂2 containing a four-membered Al₂O₂ ring. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a= 10.692(2), b= 21.825(4), c= 11.683(2)Å and β= 115.49(3)° and compound 2 in the space group P with a= 10.227(2), b= 10.966(2), c= 18.493(4)Å, α= 101.13(3), β= 97.63(3) and γ= 115.29(3)°.