Synthesis and reactivity of bis-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl diiododialane (Cp*AlI)2: an aluminium(II) precursor to (Cp*Al)4.

Use of an alternative aluminium(III) starting material has led to the isolation of a new aluminium(II) diiododialane, which functions as an intermediate in the synthesis of (Cp*Al)4, reacts oxidatively with methyllithium, and undergoes oxidative cleavage of the Al-Al bond with an aryl azide.