THE REACTIVITY OF DIMETHYLALUMINUM HYDRIDE WITH THE AMINOARSINES ME2ASNME2, MEAS(NME2)2, AND AS(NME2)3

The reactions of (Me2AlH)3 with Me2AsNMe2, MeAs(NMe2)2, and As(NMe2)3 were investigated as a function of time at room temperature and over t he temperature range -90 to 24-degrees-C by use of H-1 and C-13 NMR sp ectroscopy. (Me2AlH)3 was found to be very reactive toward the aminoar sines, even at -90-degrees-C, and no stable Me2AlH-aminoarsine adducts were observed. Instead, the initial stages of the reactions involved As-N bond cleavage with the generation of highly reactive AlN- and AsH -bonded species. The subsequent course of each reaction and the final arsenic-containing product distribution depended upon the original Al: N stoichiometric ratio and the respective aminoarsine. When the Al:N r atio 1 : 1, the reactions were straightforward for each aminoarsine. H owever, in every case, [Me2AlNMe2]2 was the final AlN-containing produ ct. Independent reactions were carried out to verify many of the propo sed decomposition pathways that lead to thermodynamically stable produ cts. The results of this study are compared with those of the analogou s, previously reported (Me3Al)2-aminoarsine systems. Additionally, a n ew synthetic route to [Me2AlAsMe2]3 has been established from the reac tion of (Me2AlH)3 with Me2AsH.