New catalyst unlocks aluminum's ability to switch between oxidation states

Aluminum's journey has been remarkable, going from being more expensive than gold to one of the most widely used materials, from beverage cans to window frames and car parts. Scientists from the Southern University of Science and Technology have added a new feather in aluminum's cap by expanding its use beyond the metallic form. They created a new aluminum-based redox catalyst—carbazolylaluminylene—that can flip back and forth between two oxidation states: Al(I) and Al(III). This catalyst drove chemical transformations long considered exclusive to transition metals.