Beyond Ni{N(SiMe3)2}2: Synthesis of a Stable Solvated Sodium Tris-Amido Nickelate

Ni(I) and Ni(II) Bis(trimethylsilyl)amides Obtained in Pursuit of the Elusive Structure of Ni{N(SiMe3)2}2

Salt metathesis routes to five new -N(SiMe3)2 nickel derivatives were studied to illuminate their mode of formation, structures, and spectroscopy. The reaction between NiI2 and K{N(SiMe3)2} afforded the Ni(II) and Ni(I) complexes [K][Ni{N(SiMe3)2}3] (1) and [K][Ni{N(SiMe3)2}2] (2). Dissolving 1 in tetrahydrofuran (THF) gave the Ni(II) species [K(THF)2][Ni{N(SiMe3)2}3] (3). The Ni(I) salt [K(DME)][Ni2{N(SiMe3)2}3] (4) was obtained by using NiCl2(DME) (DME = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) as the nickel source rather than NiI2. The isolation of the Ni(I) complexes 2 and 4 highlights the tendency for K{N(SiMe3)2} to function as a reducing agent. Introduction of adventitious O2 to solutions of [K][Ni{N(SiMe3)2}2] (2) gave the nickel inverse crown ether (ICE) species [K2][O(Ni{N(SiMe3)2}2)2] (5). Complex 5 is the first ICE complex of nickel and is one of four known ICE complexes for the 3d metals. The experimental results indicate that the reduced Ni(I) bis(trimethylsilyl)amides are relatively easily generated, whereas Ni(III) derivatives that might be expected from a disproportionation of a Ni(II) derivative are apparently not yet isolable by the above routes. Overall, the new species crystallize readily from the reaction mixtures, but under ambient conditions, they begin to decompose as solids within ca. 24 h, which hinders their characterization.

Synthesis, characterisation, and catalytic application of a soluble molecular carrier of sodium hydride activated by a substituted 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine

Recently main group compounds have stepped into the territory of precious transition metal compounds with respect to utility in the homogeneous catalysis of fundamentally important organic transformations. Inspired by the need to promote more sustainability in chemistry because of their greater abundance in nature, this change of direction is surprising since main group metals generally do not possess the same breadth of reactivity as precious transition metals. Here, we introduce the dihydropyridylsodium compound, Na-1,2-tBu-DH(DMAP), and its monomeric variant [Na-1,2-tBu-DH(DMAP)]·Me6TREN, and demonstrate their effectiveness in transfer hydrogenation catalysis of the representative alkene 1,1-diphenylethylene to the alkane 1,1-diphenylethane using 1,4-cyclohexadiene as hydrogen source [DMAP = 4-dimethylaminopyridine; Me6TREN = tris(N,N-dimethyl-2-aminoethyl)amine]. Sodium is appealing because of its high abundance in the earth's crust and oceans, but organosodium compounds have been rarely used in homogeneous catalysis. The success of the dihydropyridylsodium compounds can be attributed to their high solubility and reactivity in organic solvents.

Diphenylacetylene stabilised alkali-metal nickelates: synthesis, structure and catalytic applications

Whilst low-valent nickelates have recently been proposed as intermediates in Ni-catalysed reactions involving polar organometallics, their isolation and characterisation is often challenging due to their high sensitivity and reactivity. Advancing the synthetic, spectroscopic and structural insights of these heterobimetallic systems, here we report a new family of alkyne supported alkali-metal nickelates of the formula Li₄(solv)_n(Ar)₄Ni₂{μ₂:η²,η²-Ph-CC-Ph} (where solv = Et₂O, THF; Ar = Ph, o-Tol, naphthyl, 4-^tBu-C₆H₄) which can be accessed through the combination of Ni(COD)₂, Ph-CC-Ph and the relevant lithium aryl in a 2 : 1 : 4 ratio. Demonstrating the versatility of this approach, the sodium and potassium nickelates can also be accessed when using PhNa or via alkali-metal exchange with AMO^tBu (AM = Na, K). When employing bulky or structurally constrained aryl-lithiums, mononickel complexes of the formula Li₂(solv)_n(Ar)₂Ni{η²-Ph-CC-Ph} are instead obtained, highlighting the structural diversity of alkali-metal nickelates bearing alkyne ligands. Expanding the catalytic potential of these systems, their ability to promote the catalytic cyclotrimerisation of diphenylacetylene to hexaphenylbenzene was explored, with mononickel compounds bearing electron rich aryl-substituents displaying the best performance.

Towards Hexagonal Planar Nickel: A Dispersion-Stabilised Tri-Lithium Nickelate

Advancing the understanding of lithum nickelate complexes, here we report a family of homoleptic organonickelate complexes obtained by reacting Ni(COD)₂ and lithium aryl-acetylides in the presence of the bidentate donor TMEDA. These compounds represent rare examples of low-valent transition-metals supported solely by organolithium ligands. Whilst the solid-state structures indicate a hexagonal planar geometry around Ni⁰ with Ni-Li bonds, bonding analysis via QTAIM, NCI, NBO and ELI methods reveals that the Ni-Li interactions are repulsive in nature, characterising these complexes as tri-coordinated. London dispersion forces between TMEDA and the organic substituents on nickel are found to play a crucial role in the stabilisation and thus isolation of these complexes. Preliminary reactivity studies demonstrate that the homoleptic lithium nickelates undergo stoichiometric cross-coupling with PhI to give dinickel clusters containing both anionic acetylide and neutral alkyne ligands.

Intricate Road to Linear Anionic Nickel(I) Hexamethyldisilazanide [Ni(N(SiMe3)2)2]. Inorg Chem 2022;61:7794-7803. [PMID: 35522526 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c00214]

In this report, we present intricate pathways for the synthesis of linear nickel(I) silylamide K{m}[Ni(NR₂)₂] (NR₂ = -N(SiMe₃)₂). This is achieved first via the reduction of nickel(II) trisamide Li(donor)₄[Ni(NR₂)₃] (Li(thf)_x[1]) with KC₈ in the presence of 18-crown-6 or crypt.222. In due course, the behavior of Li(donor)₄[Ni(NR₂)₃] as a source of masked two-coordinate nickel(II) hexamethyldisilazanide is explored, leading to the formation of nickel(I) and nickel(II) N-donor adducts, as well as metal-metal-bonded dinickel(I) trisamide K(toluene)[Ni₂(NR₂)₃] (K(toluene)[5]). Finally, a convenient and reliable synthesis of K{m}[Ni(NR₂)₂] by ligand exchange of phosphines in [Ni(NR₂)(PPh₃)₂] with K{m}(NR₂) is presented. This allows for the comprehensive analysis of its electronic properties which reveals a fluxional behavior in solution with tight anion/cation interactions.

The Anionic Pathway in the Nickel-Catalysed Cross-Coupling of Aryl Ethers

The Ni‐catalysed cross‐coupling of aryl ethers is a powerful method to forge new C−C and C−heteroatom bonds. However, the inert C(sp²)−O bond means that a canonical mechanism that relies on the oxidative addition of the aryl ether to a Ni⁰ centre is thermodynamically and kinetically unfavourable, which suggests that alternative mechanisms may be involved. Here, we provide spectroscopic and structural insights into the anionic pathway, which relies on the formation of electron‐rich hetero‐bimetallic nickelates by adding organometallic nucleophiles to a Ni⁰ centre. Assessing the rich co‐complexation chemistry between Ni(COD)₂ and PhLi has led to the structures and solution‐state chemistry of a diverse family of catalytically competent lithium nickelates being unveiled. In addition, we demonstrate dramatic solvent and donor effects, which suggest that the cooperative activation of the aryl ether substrate by Ni⁰‐ate complexes plays a key role in the catalytic cycle.

Ketone Enolization with Sodium Hexamethyldisilazide: Solvent- and Substrate-Dependent E-Z Selectivity and Affiliated Mechanisms

Ketone enolization by sodium hexamethyldisilazide (NaHMDS) shows a marked solvent and substrate dependence. Enolization of 2-methyl-3-pentanone reveals E-Z selectivities in Et₃N/toluene (20:1), methyl-t-butyl ether (MTBE, 10:1), N,N,N',N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDTA)/toluene (8:1), TMEDA/toluene (4:1), diglyme (1:1), DME (1:22), and tetrahydrofuran (THF) (1:90). Control experiments show slow or nonexistent stereochemical equilibration in all solvents except THF. Enolate trapping with Me₃SiCl/Et₃N requires warming to -40 °C whereas Me₃SiOTf reacts within seconds. In situ enolate trapping at -78 °C using preformed NaHMDS/Me₃SiCl mixtures is effective in Et₃N/toluene yet fails in THF by forming (Me₃Si)₃N. Rate studies show enolization via mono- and disolvated dimers in Et₃N/toluene, disolvated dimers in TMEDA, trisolvated monomers in THF/toluene, and free ions with PMDTA. Density functional theory computations explore the selectivities via the E- and Z-based transition structures. Failures of theory-experiment correlations of ionic fragments were considerable even when isodesmic comparisons could have canceled electron correlation errors. Swapping 2-methyl-3-pentanone with a close isostere, 2-methylcyclohexanone, causes a fundamental change in the mechanism to a trisolvated-monomer-based enolization in THF.

One to Find Them All: A General Route to Ni(I)-Phenolate Species

The past 20 years have seen an extensive implementation of nickel in homogeneous catalysis through the development of unique reactivity not easily achievable by using noble transition metals. Many catalytic cycles propose Ni(I) complexes as potential reactive intermediates, yet the scarcity of nickel(I) precursors and the lack of a general, non-ligand-specific protocol for their synthesis have hampered progress in this field of research. This has in turn also limited the access to novel, well-defined Ni(I) species for the development of new catalytic reactions. Herein, we report a simple, general route to access a wide variety of Ni(I)-phenolate complexes via an unusual example of an olefinic Ni(I) complex, [Ni(COD)(OPh*)] (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, OPh* = O(^tBu)₃C₆H₂). This route has proven to be highly efficient for several coordination numbers and ligand classes enabling access to the following complexes: [Ni(IPr)(OPh*)] (IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), [Ni(dcype)(OPh*)] (dcype = 1,2-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane), [Ni(dppe)(OPh*)] (dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane), and [Ni(terpy)(OPh*)] (terpy = 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine). Moreover, reacting [Ni(dcype)(OPh*)] with trimethylsilyl triflate has led to the isolation of a unique example of a cationic binuclear Ni(I)-arene complex. All these complexes have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray, DFT, and EPR analyses, thus providing crucial experimental and theoretical information about their coordination environment and confirming a d⁹ electronic structure for all complexes involved. Overall, this new synthetic approach offers exciting opportunities for the discovery of new stoichiometric and catalytic reactivity as well as the mechanistic elucidation of Ni-based catalytic cycles.