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Aluminium iodide
Introduction
Aluminium iodide is any chemical compound containing only aluminium and iodine. Invariably, the name refers to a compound of the composition AlI3, formed by the reaction of aluminium and iodine[1] or the action of HI on Al metal. As for the related chloride and bromide, AlI3 is a strong Lewis acid and should be protected from the atmosphere.
Applications in organic synthesis
Applications in organic synthesis
Aluminium iodide is employed to break certain kinds of C-O and N-O bonds. It cleaves aryl ethers and deoxygenates epoxides.[2]
Aluminium(I) iodide
Aluminium(I) iodide
The name “aluminium iodide” is widely assumed to describe the triiodide or its dimer. In fact, a monoiodide also enjoys a role in the Al-I system, although composition AlI is unstable at room temperature with respect to the triiodide[3]
- 6 AlI → Al2I6 + 4 Al
An illustrative derivative of aluminium monoiodide is the cyclic adduct formed with triethylamine, AI4I4(NEt3)4.
Safety
Safety
Hydrolysis aluminium triiodide will release some HI, which is corrosive. Lewis acids are skin irritants.
References
References
- ↑ G. W. Watt, J. L. Hall “Aluminum Iodide” Inorganic Syntheses, 1953, Volume IV, pages 117-119
- ↑ M. Gugelchuk “Aluminum Iodide” in Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis (Ed: L. Paquette) 2004, J. Wiley & Sons, New York. DOI: 10.1002/047084289.
- ↑ “Aluminum(I) and Gallium(I) Compounds: Syntheses, Structures, and Reactions” Dohmeier, C.; Loos, D.; Schnöckel, H. Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English (1996) Volume 35, Pages 129 – 149.