Formation of an Ag→Al dative bond is avoided in reactions of an alane/tris(phosphine) ligand with monovalent silver.

An alane/tris(phospine) ligand reacts with AgOTf by coordination of three phosphines to the Ag center and transfer of triflate to the tris(pyrrolyl) Al site. Reaction with Ag[HCB11Cl11] results in the coordination of two phosphines to Ag and one to Al, with no significant Ag-Al bonding in either structure.