(N-Arylaminomethyl)pyridine-N-oxides: Synthesis and characterization of potential ligand systems and the formation of their N,O-chelate aluminum complexes

Pyridine-N-oxide-2-carbaldehyde (4a) was converted to the corresponding imine (5a) by treatment with 2,6-diisopropylaniline. Subsequent reduction with a sodium borohydride gave the corresponding (N-arylaminomethyl)pyridine-N-oxide derivative (6a). A series of analogous compounds was prepared starting from the respective (aldimino)quinoline-N-oxide (4b) or (ketimino)pyridine-N-oxide (10) systems. Deprotonation of the (aminomethyl)pyridine-N-oxides resulted in a series of unexpected reactions, such as coupling, internal redox reactions or fragmentation. Eventually, the N,O-chelate aluminum complexes (22, 23) derived from the (aminoethyl)pyridine-N-oxide ligand systems could be obtained by treatment of the respective iminopyridine-N-oxides with trimethylaluminum. Many products were characterized by X-ray diffraction.