Polyene and Arene [4 + 1] Cycloaddition at a Seven‐Membered Cyclic Alumanyl

Abstract

The reactivity of [{SiNDipp}AlK]2, which comprises a formally anionic Al(I) centre, has been examined towards a variety of 1,3‐dienic molecules, including 2,3‐dimethylbutadiene, cyclooctatetraene, anthracene and tetracene. In each case, the alumanyl derivative experiences oxidative addition across the Al(I) centre to provide the corresponding potassium aluminacyclopentene, aluminacyclopropene or aluminanorbornadiene products of [4 + 1] cycloaddition.