Synthesis and Structure of Mes*AlN(Ph)Al(Mes*)N(Ph)NPh:  A Formal Aluminum−Nitrogen Analog of the Cyclopentadienide Ion

The Al2N3 ring compound Mes*AlN(Ph)Al(Mes*)N(Ph)NPh (1), which is a cyclopentadienide analog, has been synthesized by the reaction of (Mes*AlH2)2 with PhNNPh. The folded structure of the ring (see illustration), as well as the absence of short Al−N or N−N bonds, suggests little delocalization of the π-electrons.