Molecular Main Group Metal Hydrides

This review serves to document advances in the synthesis, versatile bonding, and reactivity of molecular main group metal hydrides within Groups 1, 2, and 12-16. Particular attention will be given to the emerging use of said hydrides in the rapidly expanding field of Main Group element-mediated catalysis. While this review is comprehensive in nature, focus will be given to research appearing in the open literature since 2001.

Oxidative Addition of Hydridic, Protic, and Nonpolar E-H Bonds (E = Si, P, N, or O) to an Aluminyl Anion

The aluminyl anion K[Al(NON^Dipp)] {NON^Dipp = [O(SiMe₂NDipp)₂]^2-; Dipp = 2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃} engages in oxidative additions with the E-H (E = Si, P, N, or O) bonds of phenylsilane (PhSiH₃), mesityl phosphane (MesPH₂; Mes = 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂), 2,6-di-iso-propylaniline (DippNH₂), and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (ArOH). The resulting (hydrido)aluminate salts are formed regardless of the E-H bond polarity. All of the products were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopic techniques and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This study highlights the versatility of aluminyl anions to activate hydridic, acidic, and (essentially) nonpolar E-H bonds.

Stoichiometric and catalytic Si–N bond formation using the p-block base Al(NMe2)3

The aluminium reagent Al(NMe₂)₃ acts as a stoichiometric or catalytic reagent in dehydrogenic Si–N bond formation using amines and silanes. The observed catalytic rate law suggests a mechanism involving the silane component in the deprotonation of the amine.