ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi tˈuː dˈɑːbɪnz ænd sˈændɚz dᵻskɹˈaɪbd ðə fɔːɹmˈeɪʃən ʌv lˈɪθiəm ɐlˈuːmᵻnˌeɪt baɪ ðɪ ɐdˈɪʃən ʌv daɪlˈuːt æmˈoʊniə tʊ ɐ səlˈuːʃən kəntˈeɪnɪŋ lˈɪθiəm ænd ɐlˈuːmɪnəm sˈɔlt, ɪnðə pɹˈɛzəns ʌv fˈɛlftɐlˌiːn æz ɐn ˈɪndᵻkˌeɪɾɚ.
In 1932 Dobbins and Sanders described the formation of lithium aluminate by the addition of dilute ammonia to a solution containing lithium and aluminum salt, in the presence of phelphtalein as an indicator.