SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ALKYLALUMINUM IMINE COMPLEXES - THE X-RAY CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF [(C6H3-2,6-(CH3)2)CH=NAL(I-C4H9)2]2

Organoaluminum imine complexes, [RCH=NAlR2]2, are formed by the action of dialkylaluminum hydrides on nitriles. The reaction of HAl(i-C4H9)2 with nitriles, RCN, where R = CH3, (CH3)3C, CH2=CHCH2, CH2=C(CH3), C6H5, C6H4-2-CH3, and C6H3-2,6-(CH3)2, has been conducted and spectroscopic data for the diisobutylaluminum imine products obtained. These complexes are dimeric both in solution and in the solid state. The X-ray crystal structure of [(C6H3-2,6-(CH3)2)CH=NAl(i-C4H9)2]2 shows an Al2N2 core in which the imine moieties bridge aluminum centers: Al ... Al 2.905(3) angstrom, Al-N 1.946(5) angstrom, Al-C 1.967(6) angstrom, N=C 1.248(7) angstrom, N-Al-N 80.6(2)-degrees, and Al-N-Al 96.5(2)-degrees. Crystal data for [(C6H3-2,6-(CH3)2)CH=NAl(i-C4H9)2]2: space group C2/c, monoclinic, a = 21.556(5), b = 9.3020(9), c = 18.705(1) angstrom, beta = 108.09(1)-degrees, V = 3565(2) angstrom3, Z = 4, R(F) = 6.4%, R(wF) = 8.3%.