Reaction of Organoaluminum Coordination Compound with Carbon Dioxide

The reaction of trialkylaluminum with carbon dioxide was suppressed by the presence of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine, 2,2′-dipyridyl, N-methylimidazole (MIm), and diethyl ether. On the other hand, the insertion reaction of carbon dioxide into the Al–N bond of diethylaluminum diethylamide was accelerated by the presence of MIm, N-methylbenzimidazole, and pyridine. The complexing agents are considered to play two different roles, i. e., affecting the nucleophilicity of Al–C or Al–N bond and the ability of aluminum atom to accomodate carbon dioxide.