Lithium alkyl aluminates as alkyl transfer reagents

A method for preparing lithium alkyl aluminates according to the general formula

• Li[AlR4] (I)
• wherein
• R is selected from the group consisting of a (C1-C10) alkyl radical, a partially or fully halogenated (C1-C10) alkyl radical, a (trialkylsilyl) alkyl radical RA—Si(RB)3, a benzyl radical, a partially or fully substituted benzyl radical, a mononuclear or polynuclear arene, a partially or fully substituted mononuclear or polynuclear arene, a mononuclear or polynuclear heteroarene and a partially or fully substituted mononuclear or polynuclear heteroarene,
• wherein
• RA is selected from the group consisting of a (C1-C6) alkylene radical and a partially or fully halogenated (C1-C6) alkylene radical,
• RB radicals are selected independently of one another from the group consisting of a (C1-C10) alkyl radical, a partially or fully halogenated (C1-C10) alkyl radical and an O—RE alkyl ether radical,
• wherein radicals RE are selected independently of one another from the group consisting of a (C1-C10) alkyl radical, a partially or fully halogenated (C1-C10) alkyl radical, a benzyl radical, a partially or fully substituted benzyl radical, a mononuclear or polynuclear arene, a partially or fully substituted mononuclear or polynuclear arene, a mononuclear or polynuclear heteroarene and a partially or fully substituted mononuclear or polynuclear heteroarene,
• comprising the step of:
• Reacting LiAlH4 with a compound according to the general formula RLi,
• wherein
• R is selected from the group consisting of a (C1-C10) alkyl radical, a partially or fully halogenated (C1-C10) alkyl radical, a (trialkylsilyl) alkyl radical RA—Si(RB)3, a benzyl radical, a partially or fully substituted benzyl radical, a mononuclear or polynuclear arene, a partially or fully substituted mononuclear or polynuclear arene, a mononuclear or polynuclear heteroarene and a partially or fully substituted mononuclear or polynuclear heteroarene,
• wherein
• RA is selected from the group consisting of a (C1-C6) alkylene radical and a partially or fully halogenated (C1-C6) alkylene radical,
• RB radicals are selected independently of one another from the group consisting of a (C1-C10) alkyl radical, a partially or fully halogenated (C1-C10) alkyl radical and an O—RE alkyl ether radical,
• wherein radicals RE are selected independently of one another from the group consisting of a (C1-C10) alkyl radical, a partially or fully halogenated (C1-C10) alkyl radical, a benzyl radical, a partially or fully substituted benzyl radical, a mononuclear or polynuclear arene, a partially or fully substituted mononuclear or polynuclear arene, a mononuclear or polynuclear heteroarene and a partially or fully substituted mononuclear or polynuclear heteroarene,
• in at least one aprotic solvent in a reaction vessel,
• wherein a molar ratio LiAlH4:RLi is ≥0.25.