Synthesis of Intramolecular P/Al-Based Frustrated Lewis Pairs via Aluminum-Tin-Exchange and their Reactivity toward CO2

Frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) composed of acidic alane and basic phosphane functions, separated by a xanthene linker, can be prepared through the corresponding Me3Sn derivative and methyl aluminum compounds with elimination of Me4Sn. This way MeClAl-, Cl2Al- and (C6F5)(2)Al- moieties could be introduced and the resulting FLPs are stabilized by a further equivalent of the alane precursors. In contact with the FLPs CO2 is bound via the C atom at the phosphane functions and the two O atoms at the Al centers. The residues at the latter determine the binding strength. Hence, in case of MeClAl CO2 capture occurs at higher pressure and under ambient conditions CO2 is released again, while for Cl2Al and (C6F5)(2)Al CO2 binding becomes irreversible. The results of DFT calculations rationalize these findings by the high thermodynamic stabilization in case of more electronegative residues, which concomitantly lead to higher barriers, and in case of (C6F5)(2)Al further stabilization is achieved through a low reorganization energy.