# N‑Heterocyclic Carbene Stabilized Aluminum Alkyls and Their Reactivity toward NHC-Alanes

## TL;DR

Scientists synthesized new aluminum compounds using NHCs and studied their unexpected reactions.

## Contribution

The synthesis and reactivity of NHC-stabilized aluminum alkyls were explored, revealing unexpected ligand scrambling instead of Al–Al bonding.

## Key findings

- NHC-stabilized aluminum alkyls [NHCAlR3] were successfully synthesized.
- Attempts to form Al–Al bonded species failed, resulting in R/H ligand scrambled complexes.
- Mixed-ligand complexes were characterized using NMR and X-ray diffraction.

## Abstract

Herein, we report
the synthesis of several new NHC-stabilized aluminum
alkyl species [NHCAlR3] (for NHC = ICy, R = Me, iBu; NHC = IMes and IDip, R = iBu) via
coordination of the respective free carbene to AlMe3 or
AliBu3. Attempts to access Al–Al
bonded species (dialumanes) via reactions with the respective NHCAlH3 complexes did not yield the desired Al­(II) complexes via
R-H elimination, instead yielding the R/H ligand scrambled complexes
NHCAlR2H and NHCAlRH2, respectively. These mixed-ligand
species were characterized by 1H, 13C­{1H}, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, with select cases characterized
by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.