New Aluminum Complexes with an Asymmetric Amidine–Imine Ligand: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application in Catalysis

In this work, a new asymmetric amidine–imine ligand, using 1,8-diaminonaphthalene as a rigid platform, was synthesized and characterized, and its ability to form complexes with aluminum(III) was investigated. Several aluminum complexes were synthesized and characterized in solution and in the solid state. The synthesis of a dihalogenated aluminum(III) complex (AlI2L) using a reducing agent revealed an atypical pathway, which was investigated using Density Functional Theory (DFT). The dimethylated aluminum complex AlMe2L and the dihalogenated aluminum complex AlI2L were evaluated as catalysts for the transformation of CO2 and epoxides into cyclic carbonates in the presence of Bu4NI as a co-catalyst or in a single-component system, respectively. AlMe2L/Bu4NI appeared to be the most efficient system under 1 bar of CO2 at 90 °C.