Diimine-supported aluminum hydride: a versatile hydride, hydrogen atom and electron donor

Abstract

A novel α-diimine aluminum hydride, LAl(thf)H (L = [(2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)NC(Me)]₂), was synthesized and shown to exhibit reactivity with imines, hydrazine, azobenzene, aldehydes, and ketones. In these reactions, LAl(thf)H acts as a hydride donor, hydrogen atom donor, and an electron donor, promoting corresponding dehydrocoupling, hydroalumination, and proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions. These results represent a new cooperative interactions with α-diimine ligands, which endows it with significant redox activity and provides a platform for studying metal–ligand cooperative electron transfer processes.