Isolating elusive 'Al(mu-O)M' intermediates in CO2 reduction by bimetallic Al-M complexes (M = Zn, Mg)

The reaction of compounds containing Al-Mg and Al-Zn bonds with N2O enabled isolation of the corresponding Al(mu-O)M complexes. Electronic structure analysis identified largely ionic Al-O and O-M bonds, featuring an anionic mu-oxo centre. Reaction with CO2 confirmed that these species correspond to the proposed intermediates in the formation of mu-carbonate compounds.