Countercations direct one- or two-electron oxidation of an Al(III) complex and Al(III)-oxo intermediates activate C-H bonds.

Hydrogen abstraction by aluminum(III)-oxo intermediates via reaction pathways reminiscent of late transition metal chemistry has been observed. Oxidation of M(+)[(IP(2-))(2)Al](-) (IP = iminopyridine, M = Na, Bu(4)N) yielded [Na(THF)(DME)][(IP(-))(IP(2-))Al(OH)] (3) or [(IP(-))(2)Al(OH)] (4), via O-atom transfer and subsequent C-H activation or proton abstraction, respectively.