Process for production of an aluminum hydride compound
A compound of formula M(AlH 3 OR 1 ) y , wherein R 1 is phenyl substituted by at least one of: (i) an alkoxy group having from one to six carbon atoms; and (ii) an alkyl group having from three to twelve carbon atoms; wherein M is an alkali metal, Be or Mg; and y is one or two.
1. A compound of formula M(AlH 3 OR 1 ) y , wherein R 1 is phenyl substituted by an alkoxy group having from one to four carbon atoms; M is lithium, sodium or potassium; and y is one.
2. The compound of claim 1 in which M is sodium.
3. The compound of claim 2 in which R 1 is 4-methoxyphenyl.
4. A process for production of a compound of formula M(AlH 3 OR 2 ) y , wherein R 2 is phenyl or phenyl substituted by at least one alkyl or alkoxy group, M is an alkali metal, Be or Mg; and y is one or two; said process comprising combining a compound of formula (R 2 O) y M with aluminum, hydrogen and a metallic catalyst selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, vanadium, tantalum and iron; wherein the catalyst is present at a level of at least 200 ppm based on weight of aluminum.
5. The process of claim 4 in which the metallic catalyst is titanium, zirconium, hafnium or combinations thereof.
6. The process of claim 5 in which M is lithium, sodium or potassium, and y is one.
7. The process of claim 6 in which R 2 is phenyl or phenyl substituted by at least one of: (i) an alkoxy group having from one to four carbon atoms; and (ii) an alkyl group having from one to four carbon atoms.
8. The process of claim 7 further comprising combining the compound of formula MAlH 3 OR 2 with a triaryl borate or triaryl boroxine to produce an alkali metal borohydride.