The reaction of MMe3 with 1 molar equiv of N-phenylsalicylideneimine (HsaldPh) yields the O,N-chelate complexes Me2M(saldPh) (where M = Al (1), Ga (2), In (3)) in high yields. The reaction of 1 with γ-picoline results in a ligand redistribution reaction and the formation of the five-coordinate complex MeAl(saldPh)2 (4), while the gallium and indium compounds are stable in the presence of γ-picoline. The resulting compounds have been characterized in a solution by NMR and IR spectroscopy and cryoscopic molecular weight measurements, and their molecular and crystal structure have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Compounds 1 and 2 exist as monomeric tetrahedral complexes, while the indium analogue 3 is dimeric with the In2(μ-O)2 bridges and five-coordinate metal centers. The five-coordinate methylaluminum compound 4 exhibits trigonal-bipyramidal geometry of the metal center. The obtained results show that a Schiff base acts as a strongly coordinating chelate ligand and, in this regard, it resembles the symmetrical acetylacetonato ligand and related β-diketonates. An extended crystal structure analysis reveals that the isostructural crystalline complexes 1 and 2 comprise monomeric four-coordinate molecules linked by C−Himino···O hydrogen bonds, forming helical chains. Parallel left- and right-handed helices joined by C−H···π interactions give rise to the 3D extended tetragonal framework, with voids filled by solvent molecules. In the crystalline complex 4 the C−Haryl···O hydrogen bonds organize molecules into H-bonded dimers.

The interaction of dioxygen with various tetrahedral aluminum alkyls, (tBu)3Al.OEt2 (1), tBu2Al(mu-OtBu)2AltBu2 (6), (tBu)2Al(mesal) (2) [mesal=methyl salicylate anion], R2Al(mu-pz)2AlR2 [pz=deprotonated pyrazole, R= Me (3a), Et (3b), and tBu (3c)], R2Al(mu-3,5-Me2pz)2AIR2[3,5-Me2pz = deprotonated 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, R= Me (4a), and Et (4b)], and Et2B(mu-pz)2AlEt2 (5), has been investigated. We were particularly interested in the effect of steric hindrances both caused by the metal-bonded substituents and those that result from the nature of the bifunctional ligand used in the oxygenation reaction. In the reaction of 1 with O2, only the formation of the monoalkoxide compound6 was observed. The latter di-tert-butyl compound as well as all planar aluminapyrazoles, that is, the tert-butyl derivative 3c and lower alkylaluminum derivatives with the more demanding 3,5-dimethylpyrazoyl ligands 4a and 4b, are stable under an atmosphere of dry oxygen and ambient conditions. Inspection of the space-filling representation of these compounds has undoubtedly shown that the bulky tert-butyl groups or pyrazolyles ligands, respectively, provide steric protection for the metal center from the dioxygen attack. In contrast, the dialkylaluminum derivatives of pyrazole, 3a and 3b, and the diethylaluminum bis(1-pyrazolyl)borate complex 5, all with the metal center eclipsed with respect to the plane defined by the four nitrogen atoms, react smoothly with O2 to form the alkyl(alkoxy)aluminum complexes. In the reaction of 5 with O2 for example, the Et-B bonds remained intact, and the dimeric five-coordinate compound [Et2B(mu-pz)2 Al(mu-OEt)Et]2 (9) was isolated in good yield. The interaction of mononuclear di-tert-butyl chelate complex 2 with O2 at -15 degrees C gives (tBuOO)(tBuO)Al(mu-OtBu)2Al(mesal)2 (7) in high yield, and the presence of the alkylperoxo moiety is a particularly significant point in the resulting product. All the compounds have been characterized spectroscopically, and the structures of 3c, 4a, 6, 7, and 9 have been confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Structural features of 1-6 are discussed and are considered in relation to the possible approach pathways of the O2 molecule to the four-coordinate metal center. This analysis and the observed apparent dissimilarity in the reactions of model four-coordinate aluminum alkyls with O2 clearly show that the stereoelectronic prerequisites are responsible for the fundamentally different reactivity.

The crystal structure analysis of model organogallium amine‐alkoxides Me2Ga(OCH2CH2CH2NH2) (2) and [Me2Ga{μ‐OCH2CH(CH3)NH2}]2 (3), demonstrate how hydrogen bonding can effectively compete with metal−ligand coordination preferences in determining the molecular and crystal structure and how conformational changes in a ligand and increased steric bulk on the carbon atom adjacent to the amine group can impart on a network morphology and molecular aggregations.