Synthesis of Aluminum N,N-Dialkylcarbamates by Insertion of CO2 into Al−N Bonds

Despite decades of research on various carbamates and their important applications, only one aluminum N,N-dialkylcarbamate (ADC) with an aluminum:carbamate ratio of 1 : 3 has been structurally described and comprehensively studied so far, namely tris(diisopropyl)carbamate. The reasons for this situation include problems with the used synthetic routes. The process of CO₂ insertion into Al−N bonds of tris(dialkylamido)alanes resolved these difficulties. Using this advantageous synthetic route, the dimethyl and diethyl, as well as the pyrrolidino, piperidino, and N-methylpiperazino derivatives were now successfully prepared. These ADCs were investigated by solid-state NMR spectroscopy, where line-shape analyses of the ²⁷Al NMR spectra allowed conclusions with respect to the determination of the quadrupole coupling parameters. Furthermore, data of an intermediate during the CO₂ insertion into tris(diisopropylamido)alane were obtained by in-situ IR spectroscopy, which were complemented by NMR measurements of samples periodically taken during the reaction. Partial hydrolysis of tris(pyrrolidino)carbamate revealed a complex Al₃(μ₃-O) cluster structure, which was elucidated by single crystal X-ray diffraction.