Ni complexes of an alane/tris(phosphine) ligand built around a strongly Lewis acidic tris(N-pyrrolyl)aluminum.

Syntheses of a new tripodal alane/tris(phosphine) ligand (AlP3) based on 2-(diisopropylphosphino)pyrrole, and AlP3-supported Ni complexes are reported. The central tris(pyrrolyl)aluminum moiety acts as a stronger Lewis acid towards Ni than other related group 13 element-centered tripodal ligands, as demonstrated by the binding of H2 to Ni and the ease of reduction.