Organoaluminum chemistry with low valent aluminum — recent developments

The chemistry of mono and divalent aluminum has progressed very significantly in the last decade. Many fascinating and unusual results and novel structures of products have been realized. The monomeric form of divalent aluminum does not exist but dimers are well known and characterized. Stable Al(I) derivatives in both monomeric and tetrameric forms have been synthesized and structurally characterized. A common feature in these compounds is the use of bulky organic substituents. The chemistry of some of these compounds has also been explored. The monomeric Al(I) derivative, [HC(MeCNAr)2]Al, very recently synthesized, exhibits interesting addition and insertion reactions with alkyne, carbon dioxide and silyl azide at room temperature.