title: Multiple deprotonation of primary aromatic diamines by LiAlH4.
abstract: Reaction of LiAlH4 with 1,2-phenylenediamine (1H4) in THF results in formation of the metallocyclic amido-/imido complex [{Al(1H2)}2{Al(1H)2}2][Li(THF)2]4 (3), while in the presence of various Lewis base ligands 1,8-diaminonaphthalene (2H4) gives the amido-('ate') complexes [Al(2H2)2](-)[Li(LL')](+) [L = THF, L' = PMDETA (N,N,N',N',N''-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) (4); L = L' = TMEDA (N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) (5)]. The latter complexes provide evidence of intermediates in the proposed reaction pathway for formation of the cyclic framework of the tetraanion [{Al(1H2)}2{Al(1H)2}2](4-) of 3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK. rjl1003@cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Less
authors.forename: Lucy K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: Dominic S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Wright