The compound was first synthesized by Schwab and Wintersberger4 by the following route in tetrahydrofuran (THF) as solvent:
4CaH2 + 2AlCl3 Ca (AlH4)2 + 3CaCl2 (1)
The purified and dried product contained 40% calcium tetrahydroaluminate, the rest being THF. It was not possible to desolvate the material without decomposing the tetrahydroaluminate