Reductive elimination of [AlH2]+ from a cationic Ga–Al dihydride

Abstract

Oxidative addition of TMEDA-supported [AlH₂]⁺ to [{BDI}Ga] (BDI = {HC(C(CH₃)N(2,6-iPr₂-C₆H₃))₂}) provides [{BDI}Ga(H)–Al(H)(tmeda)][B(C₆H₃-3,5-Me₂)₄] (TMEDA = N,N,N′N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) with a covalent metal–metal bond. The reaction is readily reversed by substituting TMEDA for an N-heterocyclic carbene or dissolving in THF.