Preparation and crystal structure of di-µ-acetato-µ-hydroxo-hexa(ethyl acetate)dialuminium tris(tetrachloroaluminate)

Abstract

The direct reaction between AlCl₃ and ethyl acetate in n-hexane yields [AlCl₃(CH₃CO₂C₂H₅)₂] which during crystallization under the influence of moisture forms a complex of formula [Al₂(µ-CH₃CO₂)₂(µ-OH)(CH₃CO₂C₂H₅)₆][AlCl₄]₃. In the homobimetallic di-octahedral cation the Al³⁺ ions are bridged by one OH^– and two CH₃CO₂^– anions. The aluminium–aluminium distance is 3.331 (5)Å. The complex crystallizes in space group P2₁/n with a= 14.974(15), b= 19.578(15), c= 20.567(15)Å, and β= 94.40(7)°. The structure was refined to R= 0.0693 for 3 252 reflections.