Synthesis and reactivity of a terminal aluminium–imide bond

Abstract

The reaction of the potassium aluminyl K[Al(NON^Dipp)] (NON^Dipp = [O(SiMe₂NDipp)₂]²⁻, Dipp = 2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃) with an organic azide generates the aluminium imide complex, K[Al(NON^Dipp)(NMes)] (Mes = mesityl = 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂). DFT calculations indicate the Al–N_imide interaction is polarized but has appreciable multiple-bond character. This is demonstrated experimentally by the reaction with carbon dioxide, giving a rare example of a main group carbamate dianion via a [2+2] cycloaddition reaction.