Reaction of trimethylaluminium with main group hydroxides: a non-hydrolysis route to methylalumoxane

Reaction of AlMe3 with [(Bu-t)(2)Ga(mu -OH)](3) or Ph3EOH (E = Sn, Pb) yiel ds catalytically active MAO, [MeAlO](n), along with (Bu-t)(2)GaMe and Ph3EM e, respectively, in contrast, the reaction with Ph3EOH (E = C, Si, Ge) yiel ds [Me2Al(mu -OEPh3)](2); the formation of MAO is proposed to occur via hyd roxide exchange and the formation of unstable [Me2Al(mu -OH)](n); the prope nsity towards alkane elimination versus hydroxide exchange is controlled by the relative Bronsted acidity of the main group hydroxide.