A bis(aluminocenophane) with a short aluminum–aluminum single bond

A bis(dicarba[2]aluminocenophane) was synthesized by reduction of a corresponding dichloro precursor with 1,3-β-diketiminate magnesium(i). The bis(aluminocenophane) is stable under an inert gas atmosphere and was characterized in solution and in the solid state. The crystal structure reveals an unusually short Al-Al single bond and two η5 coordinated cyclopentadienyl groups on each aluminum atom which are disposed in an orthogonal fashion. The aluminum bond can be oxidized and cleaved by element chlorides and tert-butyl isonitrile. The bonding situation was studied within the DFT framework.