Catalytic Bond-Forming Reactions Using Aluminium(III)

Static catalysis using neutral and cationic Al(III) complexes, in which the oxidation state of the metal does not change, can be applied to a range of catalytic bond-forming reactions which have similar characteristics to transition metal analogues. This short review (although not intended to be comprehensive) highlights the current state of development in the areas of dehydrocoupling, alkene polymerisation, and other bond forming reactions involving single-site Al(III) catalysts, focusing in particular on the key factors involved in molecular activation and the mechanisms of catalysis.