The
reduction of diolate [{(dpp-bian)Al(μ-O2CH2)}2] (1), bearing a redox-active acenaphthene-1,2-diimine
ligand (dpp-bian = 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]-acenaphthene),
by boranes has been studied. The reaction of 1 with HBpin
proceeds with reduction of the C–O bonds in the −O–CH2–O– fragments and results in [{(dpp-bian)Al(OCH3)}(μ-O){Al(OBpin)(dpp-bian)}] (2) and pinBOCH3. The reduction of 1 by HBcat leads to the formation
of the compound [{(dpp-bian)Al(μ-Cat)}2] (3) and (CH3OBO)3. BH3·SMe2 reduces diolate 1 to form the complex [{(dpp-bian)Al(OCH3)}(μ-O){Al(OCH2OBH2)(dpp-bian)}]
(4). Compounds 2–4 have
been characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance and infrared
spectroscopy, and their molecular structures have been determined
by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Density functional theory calculations
have been performed to analyze the reaction energies and a possible
mechanism of an initial stage as well as to explain the different
product types.