Pathology

Organic chemistry

Alkali metal

Reactivity (psychology)

Potassium

Rubidium

Crystallography

Density functional theory

Computational chemistry

Inorganic chemistry

Chemistry

Alternative medicine

Benzene

Molecule

Metal

Lone pair

Caesium

Medicine

Chemical Communications

Expanding knowledge of low valent aluminium chemistry, rubidium and caesium aluminyls are reported to complete the group 1 (Li-Cs) set of metal aluminyls. Both compounds crystallize as a contacted dimeric pair supported by M⋯π(arene) interactions with a pronounced twist between aluminyl units. Density functional theory calculations show symmetrical bonding between the M and Al atoms, with an Al centred lone-pair donating into vacant Rb and Cs orbitals. Interestingly, despite their structural similarity the Cs aluminyl enables C-H bond activation of benzene, but not the Rb aluminyl reflecting the importance of the alkali metal in these heterobimetallic systems.

Rubidium and caesium aluminyls: synthesis, structures and reactivity in C–H bond activation of benzene