An acyclic aluminyl anion.

The potassium aluminyl complex K 2 [Al{N(Dipp)SiMe 3 } 2 ] 2 was synthesised via reduction of [AlI{N(Dipp)SiMe 3 } 2 ] (Dipp = 2,6-i-Pr 2 C 6 H 3 ). This represents the first example of an aluminyl anion supported by an acyclic ligand framework. Attempts to yield the same structure with a larger ligand framework, {N(Dipp)Si(i-Pr) 3 }, led to C-H cleavage. K 2 [Al{N(Dipp)SiMe 3 } 2 ] 2 behaves as a nucleophilic source of aluminium; reaction with an electrophilic β-diketiminate supported magnesium(II) iodide forms a monomeric, acyclic magnesium aluminyl complex.