Postfunctionalization of Tris(pyridyl) Aluminate Ligands: Chirality, Coordination, and Supramolecular Chemistry

Postfunctionalization of the aluminate anion [EtAl(6-Me-2-py)₃ ]^- (1) (2-py=2-pyridyl) with alkoxide ligands can be achieved by the selective reactions of the lithium salt 1 Li with alcohols in the appropriate stoichiometry. This method can be used to introduce 3- and 4-py functionality in the form of 3- and 4-alkoxymethylpyridyl groups, while maintaining the integrity of the aluminate framework, thereby giving entry to new supramolecular chemistry. Chirality can be introduced either by using a chiral alcohol as a reactant or by the stepwise reaction of 1 Li with two different nonchiral alcohols. The latter route has allowed the synthesis of a rare example of a chiral-at-aluminium aluminate.