The thermally stable tris(pyridyl) Al(III) complex [MeAl(2-py)
3Li·THF] (
1·THF), obtainedfrom the reaction of lithiopyridine [2-pyLi] with MeAlCl
2 (3:1 molar equiv, respectively),functions as a pyridyl-transfer reagent, as exemplified by the reaction of
1·THF with CuCl(1:1 molar equiv), which gives the Cu(I) organometallic [{Cu(2-py)}
3]
![](/images/entities/infin.gif)
(
2). The solid-statestructures of
1, the dimer [MeAl(2-py)
3Li]
2 ([
1]
2), and
2 are reported. Complex
2, which cannotbe obtained by direct reaction of [2-pyLi] with CuCl, has a polymeric structure in whichmacrocyclic [Cu(2-py)]
3 ring units form infinite offset stacks associated by short Cu···Cuinteractions between three- and four-coordinate Cu(I) centers (2.762(3) Å).