Synthesis and crystal structures of three amidinatoaluminum compounds and their catalytic behavior in the Tishchenko reaction

Three amidinatoaluminum compounds, [{MeC(NCy)2}AlMe(μ-OMe)]2 (1), [{(PhN)MeC(NCy)}AlMe(μ-OMe)]2 (2) and [{(PhN)MeC(NtBu)}AlMe(μ-OMe)]2 (3), were prepared by the insertion reaction of oxygen with the corresponding aluminum amidinate in high yield and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectra and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. 1–3 were used as pre-catalysts to catalyze the Tishchenko reaction and both 2 and 3 exhibited good to excellent catalytic activity under mild conditions.

Graphical abstractThree methyl(methoxide) aluminum amidinates were prepared by insertion reaction of oxygen with corresponding aluminum amidinate. Using amidinatoaluminum compounds as catalyst for the Tishchenko reaction under mild conditions give high yield of esters.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide