Reactivity of mono- and divalent aluminium compounds towards group 15 nanoparticles

Herein, we present a novel approach towards organometallic group 13/15-compounds, i.e. the reaction of nanoparticular arsenic and antimony with low-valent aluminium species. The reaction of the two-electron reducing agent [AlCp*]₄ (Cp* = C₅Me₅) with arsenic nanoparticles gave rise to a mixture of two unprecedented deca- and dodecanuclear Al-As clusters. In contrast, the analogous transformation with nanoparticular antimony yielded the already known Al-Sb compound [(AlCp*)₃Sb₂]. Additionally, two different dialanes [AlCp*X]₂ (X = Br, I) were employed as one-electron reducing agents, forming calix like coordination compounds upon reaction with nano arsenic. The isolated species significantly enlarge the accessible structural variety of molecular group 13/15 compounds, highlighting the exceptional utility and reactivity of nanoscale group 15 precursors.