CO Capture by 2-(Methylamino)pyridine Ligated Aluminum Alkyl Complexes.

A set of novel, easily synthesized aluminum complexes, Al[κ-,2-(methylamino)pyridine]R (R = Et, Bu) are reported. When subjected to 1 atm of CO pressure, each hemilabile pyridine arm dissociates and facilitates cooperative activation of the CO substrate reminiscent of a Frustrated Lewis Pair. This reaction has limited precedent for Al/N based Lewis Pair systems, and this is the first system readily shown to sequester multiple equivalents of CO per aluminum center.