Water in organoaluminum chemistry! Three-in-one aluminophosphate clusters that incorporate boehmite repeating units

Abstract

Mix and match! Slow introduction of water in the reaction between a monoaryl phosphate and an aluminum alkyl or Al₂Cl₆ leads to the formation of three-in-one clusters, which constitute aluminophosphate and aluminum hydroxide moieties within the same molecules (see graphic, C and H atoms not shown). Impeding the attack of water by kinetically stabilizing the aluminum alkyl leads to the isolation of a dimeric aluminophosphate, which throws mechanistic insights into the formation of larger clusters.