Precursor Structure and Hydrolysis-Gelation Process of Al(O-sec-Bu)(3) Modified with Ethylacetoacetate

The precursor structure and hydrolysis-gelation process of aluminum-sec-butoxide, Al(O-sec-Bu)(3), modified with ethylacetoacetate (EAcAc) were investigated using IR, UV and high magnetic field (11.7 T) Al-27 NMR spectra. Al-27 NMR showed that the reaction of EAcAc with Al(O-sec-Bu)(3) led to the formation of six-coordinated structural units and most of the precursors were assumed to be present as linear trimer containing a four-and two six-coordinated Al atoms. It was found that EAcAc formed the strong chelating bonds with Al(O-sec-Bu)(3), which were hardly hydrolyzed by the attack of water molecules in the gelation process.