Reactions of an aluminium(I) diketiminate compound with arenes

The reactivity of an aluminium(I) diketiminate compound NacNacAl (NacNac is [ArNC(Me)CHC(Me)NAr]⁻, where Ar is 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) towards arenes has been systematically explored. Heating NacNacAl in benzene results in a fragmentation of the NacNac moiety due to cleavage of the C=N bond, while anthracene adds to the main group carbenoid in a [4+1] fashion. Reactions with phenanthrene, triphenylene and fluoranthene demonstrate a reversible [4+1] addition process.