Aluminum Complexes Supported by Ph 2 P‐Functionalized Anilido‐Pyridine Ligand Platform: Synthesis, Structure and Evaluation as Frustrated Lewis Pairs

A simple direct condensation of 2,6‐bis(phenylamino)pyridine ( 1 ) and ClPPh 2 under basic conditions allowed straightforward synthesis of the new multidentate Ph 2 P‐substituted anilido‐pyridine proligands 2 a and 2 b . Proligand 2 a was used in σ‐bond metathesis reactions with Me 3 Al affording either dinuclear product 3 a‐Al 2 or mononuclear 4 a‐Al , depending on the reaction conditions. These complexes were authenticated by X‐ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy and microanalysis. The analysis of the interaction between Me 2 Al and Ph 2 P fragments in 4 a‐Al was performed by structural and computational studies. The reactivity of 4 a‐Al was preliminary assessed in several representative reactions.