Rubidium and caesium aluminyls : synthesis, structures, and reactivity in C-H bond activation of benzene

Mulvey, Robert and Gentner, Thomas and Kennedy, Alan and Coles, Martyn P and Evans, Matthew J and McMullin, Claire and Neale, Sam E (2022) Rubidium and caesium aluminyls : synthesis, structures, and reactivity in C-H bond activation of benzene. Chemical Communications, 58 (9). pp. 1390-1393. ISSN 1359-7345 (https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CC05379E)

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Abstract

Expanding knowledge of low valent aluminium chemistry, rubidium and caesium aluminyls are reported to complete the group 1 (Li-Cs) set of metal aluminyls. Both compounds crystallize as a contacted dimeric pair supported by M⋯π(arene) interactions with a pronounced twist between aluminyl units. Density functional theory calculations show symmetrical bonding between the M and Al atoms, with an Al centred lone-pair donating into vacant Rb and Cs orbitals. Interestingly, despite their structural similarity the Cs aluminyl enables C-H bond activation of benzene, but not the Rb aluminyl reflecting the importance of the alkali metal in these heterobimetallic systems.

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