Aluminium triethoxide (also aluminium ethoxide) is an metallo-organic compound with the empirical formula Al(OCH2CH3)3. It is a moisture-sensitive white powder.[2]
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Other names
Aluminium ethoxide
Triethoxyaluminum | |
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3D model (JSmol)
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ChemSpider | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.008.279 |
PubChem CID
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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Properties | |
Al(OCH2CH3)3 | |
Molar mass | 162.165 g·mol−1 |
Appearance | White powder |
Density | 1.142 g/cm3 |
Melting point | 140 °C (284 °F; 413 K) |
Boiling point | 320 °C (608 °F; 593 K) |
reacts violently | |
Solubility | slightly soluble in xylene, chlorobenzene |
Hazards | |
GHS labelling: | |
[1] | |
Danger[1] | |
H228, H314[1] | |
P210, P280, P305+P351+P338, P310[1] | |
Flash point | 210 °C (410 °F; 483 K) |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Properties
editAluminium triethoxide is slightly soluble in hot dimethyl benzene, chlorobenzene and other high boiling point non-polar solvents.[3] It hydrolyzes to aluminium hydroxide and ethanol:
- Al(OEt)3 + 3 H2O → Al(OH)3 + 3 EtOH
Although the structure of aluminium triethoxide has not been established by X-ray crystallography, the related aluminium isopropoxide has a tetrameric structure as verified by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The species is described by the formula Al[(μ-O-i-Pr)2Al(O-i-Pr)2]3.[4][5] The unique central Al is octahedral, and three other Al centers adopt tetrahedral geometry. A
Applications
editAluminium triethoxide is used as a reducing agent for aldehydes and ketones, and is also used as a polymerization catalyst. Aluminium triethoxide is mainly used in Sol-Gel Process preparation of high purity aluminium sesquioxide, which is a polymerization agent. At the same time, it is used as a reducing reagent, for example, carbonyl compounds that restore to alcohol.[clarification needed]
Synthesis
editAluminium triethoxide is produced by treating aluminium with anhydrous alcohol. The aluminium is often activated with iodine or by amalgamation to accelerate the reaction.[6][2]
Aluminium triethoxide has been evaluated as a catalyst for the synthesis of esters and carbonates.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Aluminum Ethoxide". American Elements. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
- ^ a b H. J. Becher (1963). "Aluminum Ethoxide". In G. Brauer (ed.). Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Vol. 1. NY, NY: Academic Press. p. 834.
- ^ "Aluminium ethoxide". The Merck Index. Royal Society of Chemistry.
- ^ Folting, K.; Streib, W. E.; Caulton, K. G.; Poncelet, O.; Hubert-Pfalzgraf, L. G. (1991). "Characterization of aluminum isopropoxide and aluminosiloxanes". Polyhedron. 10 (14): 1639–46. doi:10.1016/S0277-5387(00)83775-4.
- ^ Turova, N. Y.; Kozunov, V. A.; Yanovskii, A. I.; Bokii, N. G.; Struchkov, Yu T.; Tarnopolskii, B. L. (1979). "Physico-chemical and structural investigation of aluminium isopropoxide." J. Inorg. Nucl. Chem. 41(1): 5-11, doi:10.1016/0022-1902(79)80384-X.
- ^ Wilhoit, R. C.; Burton, J. R.; Kuo, Fu-tien; Huang, Sui-Rong; Viquesnel, A. (1 December 1962). "Properties of aluminium ethoxide". Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry. 24 (7): 851–861. doi:10.1016/0022-1902(62)80106-7. ISSN 0022-1902.
- ^ North, Michael; Young, Carl (2 November 2011). "Reducing the Cost of Production of Bimetallic Aluminium Catalysts for the Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates". ChemSusChem. 4 (11): 1685–1693. Bibcode:2011ChSCh...4.1685N. doi:10.1002/cssc.201100239. PMID 22045591.