Isolating elusive 'Al(μ-O)M' intermediates in CO reduction by bimetallic Al-M complexes (M = Zn, Mg).

The reaction of compounds containing Al-Mg and Al-Zn bonds with NO enabled isolation of the corresponding Al(μ-O)M complexes. Electronic structure analysis identified largely ionic Al-O and O-M bonds, featuring an anionic μ-oxo centre. Reaction with CO confirmed that these species correspond to the proposed intermediates in the formation of μ-carbonate compounds.