Lipophilically wrapped polyion aggregates, 130 - Tetralithium bis(ethylaluminum) tetrakis(catecholate) pentakis(dimethoxyethane): An oxygen-rich cluster [(Al++)(2)(Li+)(4)(O-18)(-8)] in a C36H44 hydrocarbon shell

The structure determination of the lipophilically wrapped cluster {[Al2Li4O18](C36H44)}(infinity), a novel material crystallized from a mixture of [(C2H5)(3)Al](2), nBuLi, and catechol in DME solution, reveals five-coordinate Al++ and Li+ centers. According to density functional theory calculations, the eight negative charges are well-delocalized over the oxygen-rich framework.