We demonstrate transfer of the imide moiety to [N2], [CO] and [Ph(H)C] units driven thermodynamically by Al-O bond formation.  Extrusion of the imine, PhC(H)NDipp, via cyclo-reversion is disfavoured thermally, due to the high energy of the putative aluminium oxide co-product, K2[(NON)Al(O)]2.  However, addition of CO2 allows the imine to be released, driven by the formation of the thermodynamically more stable aluminium carbonate co-product, K2[(NON)Al(κ2-(O,O')-CO3)]2.
THERM