Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Activity of a Series of Aluminium–Amidate Complexes

The aluminium complexes {[κ2-N,O-(t-BuNCOPh)]AlMe2}2 (2), [κ2-N,O-(t-BuNCOPh)]2AlMe (3), and [κ2-N,O-(t-BuNCOPh)]3Al (4) were prepared through the protonolysis reaction between trimethylaluminium and one, two, or three equivalents, respectively, of N-tert-butylbenzamide. Complex 2 was also prepared via a salt metathesis reaction between K(t-BuNCOPh) and dimethylaluminium chloride. Complexes 2–4 were characterized using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the complexes corroborated ligand : metal stoichiometries and revealed that all the amidate ligands coordinate to the aluminium ion in a κ2 fashion. The Al–amidate complexes 2–4 were viable catalyst precursors for the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley–Oppenauer reduction–oxidation manifold, successfully interconverting several classes of carbonyl and alcohol substrates.