An Aluminum–Nitrogen Based Lewis Pair as an Effective Catalyst for the Oligomerization of Cyanamides: Formation of Acyclic CN Oligomers Instead of Thermodynamically Favored Cyclic Aromatic Trimers

Abstract

Put in chains: Acyclic oligomers and not the thermodynamically strongly preferred aromatic trimers are formed on treatment of cyanamides with catalytic quantities of an Al–N based Lewis pair (see scheme; n=0 to >22). These oligomers have delocalized electronic systems in their backbone and are long-sought nitrogen-containing analogues of polyethyne.