Organo-Aluminium Compounds. II. Nucleophilic Displacement of Base from Triphenylaluminium Complexes

Abstract

Some complexes of triphenylaluminium with ethers, amines, and benzonitrile are described. Proton magnetic resonance spectrometry and ebulliometry have been used to study equilibria of the type: Base_x ? Ph₃Al.Base_y Ph₃Al.Base_x + Base_y. Such equilibria may be attained at measurably slow rates, and catalysis by added ether has been observed in the case, Base_x = Base_y = triethylamine. The favoured mechanism for displacement is analogous to the S_N2 reaction at a saturated carbon atom.