Divergent reduction chemistry of NHC-aluminium(<scp>iii</scp>) hydrides

Understanding and controlling facile reduction chemistry is a key challenge in molecular main group chemistry. Herein, we report the divergent reduction chemistry of aluminium(III) hydrides supported by N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). Choice of reducing agent and NHC ligand are key, with Al(II) dialanes, Al(II) cations, asymmetric Al(II) dialanes and ligand exchange reactions all identified <i>via</i> NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction.