Cooperation towards nobility: equipping first-row transition metals with an aluminium sword

Abstract

The exploration for noble metals substitutes in catalysis has become a highly active area of research, driven by the pursuit of sustainable chemical processes. Although the utilization of base metals holds great potential as an alternative, their successful implementation in predictable catalytic processes necessitates the development of appropriate ligands. Such ligands must be capable of controlling their intricate redox chemistry and promote two-electron events, thus mimicking well-established organometallic processes in noble metal catalysis. While numerous approaches for infusing nobility to base metals have been explored, metal–ligand cooperation has garnered significant attention in recent years. Within this context, aluminium-based ligands offer interesting features to fine-tune the activity of metal centres, but their application in base metal catalysis remains largely unexplored. This perspective seeks to highlight the most recent breakthroughs in the reactivity of heterobimetallic aluminium–base-metal complexes, while also showcasing their potential to develop novel and predictable catalytic transformations. By turning the spotlight on such heterobimetallic species, we aim to inspire chemists to explore aluminium–base-metal species and expand the range of their applications as catalysts.