Aluminum Complexes Supported by Ph₂P‐Functionalized Anilido‐Pyridine Ligand Platform: Synthesis, Structure and Evaluation as Frustrated Lewis Pairs

Abstract

A simple direct condensation of 2,6‐bis(phenylamino)pyridine (1) and ClPPh2 under basic conditions allowed straightforward synthesis of the new multidentate Ph2P‐substituted anilido‐pyridine proligands 2a and 2b. Proligand 2awas used in s‐bond metathesis reactions with Me3Al affording either dinuclear product 3a‐Al2 or mononuclear 4a‐Al, depending on the reaction conditions. These complexes were authenticated by X‐ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy and microanalysis. The analysis of the interaction between Me2Al and Ph2P fragments in 4a‐Al was performed by structural and computational studies. The reactivity of 4a‐Al was preliminary assessed in several representative reactions.