Molecular structure of bis(N-phenylsalicylideneiminato)aluminium-di(μ-isopropoxy)di(isopropoxo)aluminium(iii) and its reactions with alkoxyalkanols

Abstract

A novel heterocyclic derivative of aluminium(III) [C₆H₄O{CHN(C₆H₅)}]₂Al(μ-OPrⁱ)₂Al(OPrⁱ)₂1 has been synthesized by the reaction of aluminium isopropoxide with N-phenylsalicylidene imine in 1 ∶ 1 molar ratio in refluxing anhydrous benzene. Reactions of 1 with alkoxyalkanols in 1 ∶ 1 and 1 ∶ 2 molar ratios in refluxing anhydrous benzene yielded binuclear complexes of the types, [C₆H₄O{CHN(C₆H₅)}]₂Al(μ-OPrⁱ)₂Al(OCH₂CH₂OR)(OPrⁱ) and [C₆H₄O{CHN(C₆H₅)}]₂Al(μ-OPrⁱ)₂Al(OCH₂CH₂OR)₂ (where RCH₃, C₂H₅ and C₄H₉ⁿ), respectively. All of these binuclear complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, molecular weight measurements, and spectral studies. The FAB mass spectrum and ²⁷Al NMR spectrum of 1 indicate that it is a discrete unsymmetrical dimer containing four- and six-coordinated aluminium(III) atoms as confirmed by its single crystal X-ray structure.