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Tetrachloroaluminate

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Ion
Tetrachloroaluminate
Names
IUPAC name Tetrachloroaluminate(1–)
Systematic IUPAC name Tetrachloroaluminate(1-)
Other names  
  • Aluminate(1-), tetrachloro
  • tetrachloridoaluminate(1-)
  • tetrachloridoaluminate(1-); tetrachloroalumanuide
  • tetrachloroalumanuide
Identifiers
CAS Number
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
Gmelin Reference 2297
PubChem CID
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
InChI
  • InChI=1S/Al.4ClH/h;4*1H/q+3;;;;/p-4Key: BXILREUWHCQFES-UHFFFAOYSA-J
  • InChI=1S/Al.4ClH/h;4*1H/q+3;;;;/p-4Key: BXILREUWHCQFES-UHFFFAOYSA-J
SMILES
  • Cl(Cl)(Cl)Cl
Properties
Chemical formula AlCl4
Molar mass 168.78 g·mol
Structure
Point group Td
Molecular shape Tetrahedral
Hybridisation sp
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C , 100 kPa). checkY verify (what is  ?) Infobox references
Chemical compound

Tetrachloroaluminate is an anion formed from aluminium and chlorine. The anion has a tetrahedral shape and is isoelectronic with silicon tetrachloride. Some tetrachloroaluminates are soluble in organic solvents, creating an ionic non-aqueous solution, making them suitable as component of electrolytes for batteries. For example, lithium tetrachloroaluminate is used in some lithium batteries.

Formation

Tetrachloroaluminate ions are formed as intermediates in the Friedel–Crafts reactions when aluminium chloride is used as the catalyst. In the case of the Friedel–Crafts alkylation, the reaction can be broken into three steps as follows:

  1. The alkyl halide reacts with the strong Lewis acid to form an activated electrophile composed of the tetrachloroaluminate ion and the alkyl group.
    alkyl halide reacts with strong Lewis acid (AlCl3) to form activated electrophile
  2. The aromatic ring (benzene in this case) reacts with the activated electrophile forming an alkylbenzenium carbocation.
    Aromatic ring reacts with activated electrophile forming benzenonium carbo-cation
  3. The alkylbenzenium carbocation reacts with a tetrachloroaluminate anion, regenerating the aromatic ring and the Lewis acid and forming hydrochloric acid (HCl).
    Benzenonium carbocation reacts with tetracholoraluminate anion, regenerating aromatic ring and Lewis acid + HCl

A similar mechanism occurs in the Friedel-Crafts acylation.

References

  1. "electrophilic substitution - the alkylation of benzene". www.chemguide.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  2. Friedel-Crafts Acylation. Organic-chemistry.org. Retrieved on 2014-01-11.
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