Tuning of Cu-Al Interactions in Complexes Derived from Tris(pyridonyl-6-methyl)aluminum Metalloligands.

A series of bioinspired polar atrane Cu-Al complexes were studied with a combined experimental and computational approach to assess the range and nature of Cu-Al interactions in these novel species. The aluminum metalloligand [Na{MeAl(OPy-6-Me)}] () was furnished in excellent yield (92%) from the nucleophilic attack of Na(OPy-6-Me) to AlMe and the subsequent alkane elimination reaction with 6-methyl-2-hydroxypyridine. At the same time, the metalloligand [Al(OPy-6-Me)] () was isolated in an also excellent yield (95%) via alkane elimination of AlMe with 6-methyl-2-hydroxypyridine.