Synthesis and structure of the first discrete dinuclear cationic aluminum complexes.

The reactions of the charge neutral dinuclear aluminum tetraalkyl complexes of di-Schiff base ligands, i.e. [AlMe2{ON}-R-{ON}AlMe2] (1a, R = 1,3-propylene; 1b, R = 1,3-cyclohexylene) with B(C6F5)3 and [H(Et2O)2](+)[H2N{B(C6F5)3}2](-) were investigated. When B(C6F5)3 was used as the cationizing agent (1 or 2 equiv. vs. Al), only monocationic dinuclear complexes [2a,b]+[MeB(C6F5)3]- were obtained. In contrast, with [H(Et2O)2](+)[H2N{B(C6F5)3}2](-), both mixed-dicationic [3a,b·(OEt2)2]2+[MeB(C6F5)3]-[H2N{B(C6F5)3}2]- and homo-dicationic [3a,b·(OEt2)2]2+[H2N{B(C6F5)3}2]-2 ion-pairs were prepared. All cationic complexes were characterized by (1)H, (13)C, (19)F and (11)B NMR spectroscopy, and an X-ray diffraction study was performed for [3b·(OEt2)2]2+[H2N{B(C6F5)3}2]-2.