Researchers at King's College London have created a novel aluminum compound that mimics the reactivity of rare metals. The discovery, featuring a unique triangular structure, could enable cheaper and greener chemical processes. Led by Dr. Clare Bakewell, the team published their findings in Nature Communications.
A team led by Dr. Clare Bakewell, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at King's College London, has identified the first known cyclotrialumane. This compound consists of three aluminum atoms in a stable trimeric structure, capable of breaking strong chemical bonds such as dihydrogen and facilitating ethene insertion for chain growth. The structure remains intact in various solutions, enhancing its potential for industrial use. Aluminum, abundant and about 20,000 times cheaper than platinum or palladium, offers a sustainable alternative to scarce transition metals often sourced from politically unstable regions. Dr. Bakewell noted: 'Transition metals are the workhorses of chemical synthesis and catalysis -- but many of the most useful are becoming increasingly difficult to access and extract.' The compound has produced unprecedented 5- and 7-membered rings with carbon, surpassing some transition metal capabilities. Dr. Bakewell added: 'What's special about this work, is that we're pushing the boundaries of chemical knowledge.' This could lead to new materials and cleaner production methods. She emphasized: 'This chemistry could support a transition to cleaner, greener and cheaper chemical production, whilst making new discoveries along the way.' The research appears in Nature Communications (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-68432-1).
