tert-butylaluminium complex of 2,2′-di(hydroxymethyl)biphenyl: intra-molecular hydrogen bonding

The reaction of 2,2′-di(hydroxymethyl)biphenyl with (t-Bu)3Al leads to the formation of the bimetallic compound [(t-Bu)4Al2(HOCH2C12H8CH2O)2] (1) with two hydroxyl groups. The compound 1 has been characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, cryoscopic molecular weight measurements and elemental analysis and molecular structure has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The 18 membered cycle (Al2O4C12) of 1 adopts a configuration with endocyclic oxygen atoms that allow for the intra-molecular hydrogen bonding formation.