A new entry into aluminum chemistry: [L(1)AlMe]⋅THF, a versatile building block for bimetallic and polymetallic complexes.

[L(1) AlMe]⋅THF (1; L(1) =CH[C(CH(2) )](CMe)(2,6-iPr(2) C(6) H(3) N)(2) ) is prepared by a new method to test its reactivity towards metal complexes to give heterobimetallic or polymetallic complexes. The treatment of 1 with germanium chloride ([LGeCl]), tin chloride ([LSnCl]; L=CH(CMe2,6-iPr(2) C(6) H(3) N)(2) ), bismuth amide ([1,8-C(10) H(6) (NSiMe(3) )(2) BiNMe(2) ]), and dimethyl zinc (ZnMe(2) ) gave the desired compounds with different functional groups on the aluminum center. All compounds have been thoroughly characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, EI mass spectrometry, X-ray crystallography (2, 3, and 5), and elemental analysis.