We report details of our attempts to reduce the bulky carbazolyl diiodoalane [R-AlI2]. The reducing agents employed include KC8, Cp*2Co and the Mg(I) compound [(MesBDI)Mg]2. The use of KC8 allowed the spectroscopic observation of the alanediyl [R-Al]. With Cp*2Co as the reducing agent, the alanediyl [R-Al] was obtained as a crystalline material in low yield, but paramagnetic impurities remained. When diiodoalane [R-AlI2] was treated with [(MesBDI)Mg]2, no reduction but a 2 : 1 addition was observed.