Room Temperature Reduction of CO₂ to Methanol by Al-Based Frustrated Lewis Pairs and Ammonia Borane

AlX(3) (X = Cl or Br) and PMes(3) (Mes = 2,4,6-C(6)H(2)Me(3)) react to form weak Lewis adducts but also react with CO(2) to give Mes(3)P(CO(2))(AlX(3))(2) (X = Cl; Br). These species react rapidly with excess ammonia borane at room temperature to give CH(3)OH upon quenching with water.