Modification of aluminium alkoxides with dialkylmalonates

ABSTRACT Depending on the reaction conditions, different aluminium dialkylmalonate derivatives were obtained by reaction of aluminium alkoxides Al(OR)3 (R = Et, iPr, tBu) with dialkylmalonates, viz. Al(malonate)3 (malonate = dimethyl, diethyl, di-iso-propyl and di-tert-butyl malonate), Al2(OiPr)4(malonate)2 (malonate = di-iso-propyl and di-tert-butyl malonate), Al2(OiPr)2(di-iso-propylmalonate)4 and Al3(OH)(OEt)3(diethylmalonate)5. All compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, and single crystal structure analyses are reported for each type of compound. An Al2(OiPr)2(dialkylmalonate)4 derivative was only obtained by disproportionation of Al2(OiPr)4(di-iso-propylmalonate)2, but not by reaction of Al(OiPr)3 with dialkylmalonates in the corresponding molar ratio. Reactions of Al(OtBu)3 only resulted in Al(malonate)3 derivatives, but no transesterification was observed, contrary to the reaction of Al(OiPr)3 with dimethyl or diethyl malonate. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT