Just Published in ChemComm

Authors: Johannes S. Schneider, Holger Helten

Abstract: Rare examples of three-coordinate aluminum cations of the form [(NHC)⋅AlMes₂]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ and their etherate analogues [(NHC) ⋅ AlMes₂(OEt₂)]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻are presented. The Lewis-acidity of the cations was evaluated theoretically and experimentally to be very high. These cationic Lewis-acids form a frustrated Lewis-pair (FLP) upon addition of the phosphine PCy₃, which reacts with small molecules such as CO₂, ethene, and 2-butyne.

Link: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/cc/d4cc03813d