Synthesis and structure of aluminum 2,2′-oxobis(phenolate)s

Two aluminum complexes with OOO-tridentate bis(phenolate) ligands have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Reactions of 2,2′-oxobis(phenol) with tBu3Al and Ph3Al produced the dimeric compounds [RAl(OC6H4OC6H4O)]2 [R = tBu (1), R = Ph (2)]. A single crystal X-ray analysis showed that molecules of the compounds contained two 2,2′-oxobis(phenolate) units and two five-coordinate aluminum atoms, each bonded to four oxygen atoms and to one carbon atom.