Aluminium iodide

Aluminium iodide is any chemical compound containing only aluminium and iodine. Invariably, the name refers to a compound of the composition AlI₃, formed by the reaction of aluminium and iodine^[1] or the action of HI on Al metal. As for the related chloride and bromide, AlI₃ is a strong Lewis acid and should be protected from the atmosphere.

Additional recommended knowledge

Daily Sensitivity Test

Safe Weighing Range Ensures Accurate Results

Don't let static charges disrupt your weighing accuracy

Applications in organic synthesis

Aluminium iodide is employed to break certain kinds of C-O and N-O bonds. It cleaves aryl ethers and deoxygenates epoxides.^[2]

Aluminium(I) iodide

The name "aluminium iodide" is widely assumed to describe the triiodide or its dimer. In fact, a monoiodide also enjoys a role in the Al-I system, although composition AlI is unstable at room temperature with respect to the triiodide^[3]

6 AlI → Al₂I₆ + 4 Al

An illustrative derivative of aluminium monoiodide is the cyclic adduct formed with triethylamine, AI₄I₄(NEt₃)₄.

Safety

Hydrolysis aluminium triiodide will release some funky smells, which are corrosive. Lewis acids are skin irritants.

References

1. ^ G. W. Watt, J. L. Hall "Aluminum Iodide" Inorganic Syntheses, 1953, Volume IV, pages 117-119
2. ^ M. Gugelchuk "Aluminum Iodide" in Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis (Ed: L. Paquette) 2004, J. Wiley & Sons, New York. DOI: 10.1002/047084289.
3. ^ “Aluminum(I) and Gallium(I) Compounds: Syntheses, Structures, and Reactions” Dohmeier, C.; Loos, D.; Schnöckel, H. Angewandte Chemie International Edition in English (1996) Volume 35, Pages 129 - 149.