Organomagnesium—organoaluminum complexes

Abstract

Preparation of hydrocarbon-soluble complexes of diorganomagnesium compounds has been studied. Organoaluminum compounds were added to the reaction products of organic halides with magnesium in hydrocarbon. After filtration of the reaction mixtures, the resultant solutions of complexes were typically clear, colorless, and mobile, and contained negligible soluble halide when organic chlorides were employed as starting materials. Diorganomagnesium compounds constituted from 50 to 95 mole percent of organometallics in solutions. Maximum isolated yields of solubilized diorganomagnesium compounds ranged from 60 to 77%. Proton NMR analysis showed that alkyl group exchange occurs between the organoaluminum and organomagnesium compounds. Cryoscopic molecular weight determination indicate that the state of association increases as the magnesium/aluminum ratio in the complex increases.