New route to organoaluminium sulfides: synthesis of (Mes*AlS)2 (Mes* = -C6H2But3-2,4,6) and its dimethyl sulfoxide adduct [Mes*AlS(OSMe2)]2

Abstract

Treatment of the alane (Mes*AlH₂)₂ (Mes* = -C₆H₂Bu^t₃-2,4,6) with S(SiMe₃)₂ in refluxing toluene affords the novel organoaluminium sulfide (Mes*AlS)₂ 1 which has a previously unobserved dimeric structure; treatment of 1 with 2 equiv. of Me₂SO furnishes the complex [Mes*AlS(OSMe₂)]₂ 2 in which a dimeric configuration is retained, and which shows weak intermolecular interactions between neighboring dimers.