Metal−Alane Adducts with Zero-Valent Nickel, Cobalt, and Iron

ABSTRACT: Coordination complexes that pair a zero-valent transition metal (Ni, Co, Fe) and an aluminum(III) center have been prepared. They add to the few examples of structurally characterized metal alanes and are the first reported metallalumatranes. To understand the M−Al interaction and gauge the effect of varying the late metal, the complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, electrochemistry, UV−Vis−NIR and NMR spectroscopies, and theoretical calculations. The M−Al bond strength decreases with varying M in the order Ni> Co> Fe. The adsorption of late transition metals on an oxidesupport forms the basis of many heterogeneous catalysts. The catalytic activity and selectivity are both highly dependent on the choice of the metal, the choice of the oxide, and the extent of metal−support interaction. Notably, strong metal− support bonds have been proposed as the cause of enhance