μ-Methylene-bis[dibromido(diethyl ether-κO)aluminium(III)]: crystal structure and chemical exchange in solution

Abstract

In the title compound, [Al2Br4(CH2)(C4H10O)2], the molecule lies on a crystallographic twofold axis passing through the bridging C atom. Each AlIII atom is four-coordinate, being bonded to two bromide ions, bridging the CH2 group as well as the oxygen atom of a diethyl ether ligand in a slightly distorted tetrahedral arrangement with angles ranging from 101.52 (8) to 116.44 (5)°. The Al—CH2—Al angle, 118.4 (2)°, is the smallest observed for a structure where this moiety is not part of a ring. In the crystal, weak C—H...Br interactions, characterized as R 2 2(12) rings, link the molecules into ribbons in the [101] direction. The title compound is monomeric and coordinatively saturated in the solid state, as each aluminum is four-coordinate, but in solution the ether molecules from either or both Al atoms can dissociate, and would be expected to rapidly exchange, and this is supported by NMR data.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
May 21, 2021
Source ID
10.1107/s2056989021005302

Entities

People

  • Andrew P Purdy
  • Ray J Butcher

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Organic Chemistry