Synthesis and Reactivity of Nickel Hydride Complexes of an α-Diimine Ligand

Redox Activity and Potentials of Bidentate N-Ligands Commonly Applied in Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions

Bidentate N-ligands are paramount to recent advances in nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Through comprehensive organometallic, spectroscopic, and computational studies on bi-oxazoline and imidazoline ligands, we reveal that a square planar geometry enables redox activity of these ligands in stabilizing nickel radical species. This finding contrasts with the prior assumption that bi-oxazoline lacks redox activity due to strong mesomeric donation. Moreover, we conducted systematic cyclic voltammetry (CV) analyses of bidentate pyridyl, oxazoline, and imidazoline nitrogen ligands, along with their corresponding nickel complexes. Complexation with nickel shifts the reduction potentials to a more positive region and narrows the differences in redox potentials among the ligands. Additionally, various ligands led to different degrees of bromide dissociation from singly reduced (L)Ni(Ar)(Br) complexes, reflecting varying reactivity in the subsequent activation of alkyl halides, a crucial step in cross-electrophile coupling. These insights highlight the significant electronic effects of ligands on the stability of metalloradical species and their redox potentials, which interplay with coordination geometry. Quantifying the electron-donating, π-accepting properties of these ligands, as well as their effect on catalyst speciation, provides crucial benchmarks for controlling catalytic activity and enhancing catalyst stability.

Molecular engineering design of twisted-backbone pure Type-I organic photosensitizers for hypoxic photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), an emerging tumor therapeutic strategy has received tremendous attention. Enslaved by the high dependence of oxygen, Type-II photosensitizers (PSs) mediated PDT is restricted by the hypoxic environment of tumors. By transferring electrons to water or other substrates instead of oxygen, Type-I PSs hold the promise of achieving an ideal therapeutic effect under hypoxic conditions. In this study, three twisted-backbone PSs (CBz-TQs-1, CBz-TQs-2 and CBz-TQs-3) are synthesized and studied. Owing to different substituent effects, the ROS generation mechanism transfers from pure Type-II of their prototype PSs (TQs-1, TQs-2 and TQs-3) to mixed Type-I/II of CBz-TQs-1 and CBz-TQs-2 to pure Type-I of CBz-TQs-3. Moreover, CBz-TQs-3 exhibits an ultra-high ROS quantum yield (∼1.0). The in vitro and in vivo PDT effects of water-dissolvable nanoparticles (NPs) of CBz-TQs-3 are investigated. The results show that the phototoxicity of CBz-TQs-3 is not affected by hypoxic environments. In addition, a remarkable tumor ablation can be found after CBz-TQs-3 NPs mediated PDT on Balb/c mice with xenograft tumors. It proves that a twisted backbone strategy is beneficial for designing pure Type-I PSs with high-efficient hypoxic PDT.

Preparation of silyl-terminated branched polyethylenes catalyzed by Brookhart's nickel diimine complex activated with hydrosilane/B(C6F5)3

Brookhart's nickel α-diimine complex [(κ2-N,N-BIAN)NiCl2] (1) (where BIAN = {Ar-NAceN-Ar}, Ace = acenaphthen-1,2-diyl, and Ar = 2,6-(iPr)2-C6H3) activated with a hydrosilane/B(C6F5)3 (SiHB) adduct forms a highly active catalytic system for ethylene polymerization. Under optimal conditions, the activity of the system depends on the nature of hydrosilane and decreases in the order R3SiH > Ph2SiH2 > PhSiH3. The decrease in system activity within the hydrosilane series is correlated with increasing formation of Ni(I) species. In addition to their activation effect, hydrosilanes act as efficient chain termination/chain transfer agents, with the Si/Ni ratio controlling the molecular weight of the resulting polyethylene (PE). The use of Et3SiH generated elastomeric, highly branched polymers with a saturated chain-end, while systems using Ph2SiH2 and PhSiH3 led to branched end-functionalized PEs terminated with the hydrosilyl functionality (i.e. br-PE-SiPh2H or br-PE-SiPhH2).

Ligand Redox Activity of Organonickel Radical Complexes Governed by the Geometry

Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions often employ bidentate π-acceptor N-ligands to facilitate radical pathways. This report presents the synthesis and characterization of a series of organonickel radical complexes supported by bidentate N-ligands, including bpy, phen, and pyrox, which are commonly proposed and observed intermediates in catalytic reactions. Through a comparison of relevant analogues, we have established an empirical rule governing the electronic structures of these nickel radical complexes. The N-ligands exhibit redox activity in four-coordinate, square-planar nickel radical complexes, leading to the observation of ligand-centered radicals. In contrast, these ligands do not display redox activity when supporting three-coordinate, trigonal planar nickel radical complexes, which are better described as nickel-centered radicals. This trend holds true irrespective of the nature of the actor ligands. These results provide insights into the beneficial effect of coordinating salt additives and solvents in stabilizing nickel radical intermediates during catalytic reactions by modulating the redox activity of the ligands. Understanding the electronic structures of these active intermediates can contribute to the development and optimization of nickel catalysts for cross-coupling reactions.

Generation and Stabilization of a Dinickel Catalyst in a Metal-Organic Framework for Selective Hydrogenation Reactions

Although many monometallic active sites have been installed in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for catalytic reactions, there are no effective strategies to generate bimetallic catalysts in MOFs. Here we report the synthesis of a robust, efficient, and reusable MOF catalyst, MOF-NiH, by adaptively generating and stabilizing dinickel active sites using the bipyridine groups in MOF-253 with the formula of Al(OH)(2,2'-bipyridine-5,5'-dicarboxylate) for Z-selective semihydrogenation of alkynes and selective hydrogenation of C=C bonds in α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones. Spectroscopic studies established the dinickel complex (bpy⋅- )NiII (μ2 -H)2 NiII (bpy⋅- ) as the active catalyst. MOF-NiH efficiently catalyzed selective hydrogenation reactions with turnover numbers of up to 192 and could be used in five cycles of hydrogenation reactions without catalyst leaching or significant decrease of catalytic activities. The present work uncovers a synthetic strategy toward solution-inaccessible Earth-abundant bimetallic MOF catalysts for sustainable catalysis.

Reactivity of (bi-Oxazoline)organonickel Complexes and Revision of a Catalytic Mechanism

Bi-Oxazoline (biOx) has emerged as an effective ligand framework for promoting nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling, cross-electrophile coupling, and photoredox-nickel dual catalytic reactions. This report fills the knowledge gap of the organometallic reactivity of (biOx)Ni complexes, including catalyst reduction, oxidative electrophile activation, radical capture, and reductive elimination. The biOx ligand displays no redox activity in (biOx)Ni(I) complexes, in contrast to other chelating imine and oxazoline ligands. The lack of ligand redox activity results in more negative reduction potentials of (biOx)Ni(II) complexes and accounts for the inability of zinc and manganese to reduce (biOx)Ni(II) species. On the basis of these results, we revise the formerly proposed "sequential reduction" mechanism of a (biOx)Ni-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling reaction by excluding catalyst reduction steps.

Redox Activity of Pyridine-Oxazoline Ligands in the Stabilization of Low-Valent Organonickel Radical Complexes

Low-valent organonickel radical complexes are common intermediates in cross-coupling reactions and metalloenzyme-mediated processes. The electronic structures of N-ligand supported nickel complexes appear to vary depending on the actor ligands and the coordination number. The reduction products of a series of divalent (pyrox)Ni complexes establish the redox activity of pyrox in stabilizing electron-rich Ni(II)-alkyl and -aryl complexes by adopting a ligand-centered radical configuration. The reduced pyrox imparts an enhanced trans-influence. In contrast, such redox activity was not observed in a (pyrox)Ni(I)-bromide species. The excellent capability of pyrox in stabilizing electron-rich Ni species resonates with its proclivity in promoting the reductive activation of C(sp3) electrophiles in cross-coupling reactions.

Asymmetric hydrogenation catalyzed by first-row transition metal complexes

This review focuses on asymmetric direct and transfer hydrogenation with first-row transition metal complexes. The reaction mechanisms and the models of enantiomeric induction were summarized and emphasized.

Base metal-catalyzed hydrogen isotope exchange

Hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) has played an increasingly important role in deuteration and tritiation of compounds in the pharmaceutical industry. Transition metal-catalyzed HIE methods have gained considerable attention in the past decades, and most of these methods were comprehensively reviewed in 2010 in a special JLCR issue. It covered a wide variety of HIE catalysis systems involving precious metal catalysts, and a relatively small percentage of base metal catalysts, with a major focus on heterogeneous nickel. While base metal catalysts have remained underdeveloped for HIE chemistry relative to second and third row transition metal catalysts, in recent years, the first examples of homogeneous iron, nickel, and cobalt catalysts have been introduced to the field. Hence, in this review, we describe the recent development of base metal catalysts for HIE and their applications in isotopic labeling of pharmaceutical compounds. These research efforts have resulted in the development of labeling approaches that complement traditional methods in terms of activity and selectivity, thus diversifying the methodologies available for isotope chemists.

H2 Evolution from a Thiolate-Bound Ni(III) Hydride

Terminal Ni^III hydrides are proposed intermediates in proton reduction catalyzed by both molecular electrocatalysts and metalloenzymes, but well-defined examples of paramagnetic nickel hydride complexes are largely limited to bridging hydrides. Herein, we report the synthesis of an S = 1/2, terminally bound thiolate-Ni^III-H complex. This species and its terminal hydride ligand in particular have been thoroughly characterized by vibrational and EPR techniques, including pulse EPR studies. Corresponding DFT calculations suggest appreciable spin leakage onto the thiolate ligand. The hyperfine coupling to the terminal hydride ligand of the thiolate-Ni^III-H species is comparable to that of the hydride ligand proposed for the Ni-C hydrogenase intermediate (Ni^III-H-Fe^II). Upon warming, the featured thiolate-Ni^III-H species undergoes bimolecular reductive elimination of H₂. Associated kinetic studies are discussed and compared with a structurally related Fe^III-H species that has also recently been reported to undergo bimolecular H-H coupling.

Synthetic investigations of low-coordinate (N-phosphino-amidinate) nickel chemistry: agostic alkyl complexes and benzene insertion into Ni-H

Treatment of (PN)NiX (X = NHdipp or OtBu; PN = N-phosphinoamidinate ligand) with Me2PhSiH in benzene solvent afforded the crystallographically characterized, antifacial-coordinated, dinuclear species 1, the formation of which corresponds to the hitherto unknown net Ni-H addition of two equivalents of the putative (PN)NiH intermediate across C[double bond, length as m-dash]C units within a single benzene molecule. Computational analysis supports the view of 1 as being comprised of two cationic (PN)NiII fragments ligated by a substituted butadiene dianion μ2-η3:η3-C6H82- bridging group. Also described is the formation and characterization of three-coordinate (PN)Ni(alkyl) complexes stabilized by β-agostic (alkyl = Et, 2; n-Bu, 3; n-hexyl, 4) or γ-agostic (alkyl = neopentyl, 5) interactions, and our efforts to employ 2 and 3 as synthons for the generation of (PN)NiHvia β-hydride elimination. Notably, compound 5 represents both the first crystallographically characterized three-coordinate Ni-alkyl complex featuring a heterobidentate ligation, and the first neutral γ-agostic NiII-alkyl complex.

Mechanistic study of the competitiveness between branched and linear polyethylene production on N-arylcyano-β-diketiminate nickel hydride

This paper provides a guide to identify and understand the mechanistic origin of the catalytic activity and selectivity in the production of linear and branched polyethylene through a nickel hydride catalyst.

Ethylene polymerization of nickel catalysts with α-diimine ligands: factors controlling the structure of active species and polymer properties

α-Diimine and related complexes of late transition metals such as palladium and nickel have been attracting continuing interest as single-site catalysts of ethylene homopolymerization to branched polyolefins, having challenging mechanical properties. The state-of-the art catalysts demonstrate promising catalytic activities, and enhanced thermal stabilities, affording polyethylenes with a variable degree of branching and, in addition, are able to incorporate polar co-monomers into polyethylene structures. At the same time, fundamental understanding of the structure-reactivity relationships of such catalysts mostly remains at the phenomenological level, due to the lack of experimental data on the solution structures of intermediates that drive the polymerization process. In this perspective, we discuss recent advances of α-diimine nickel based catalysts of ethylene polymerization, focusing on the relationships between the catalyst structures on the one hand, and their thermal stabilities and properties of the resulting polyethylene, on the other hand. In addition, some intriguing novel mechanistic findings of these catalyst systems are presented.

Cyclotrimerization of alkynes catalyzed by a self-supported cyclic tri-nuclear nickel(0) complex with α-diimine ligands

The cyclic tri-nickel(0) complex [{Ni(μ-L^Me-2,4)}₃] (L^Me-2,4 = [(2,4-Me₂C₆H₃)NC(Me)]₂) self-supported by the α-diimines catalyzes cyclotrimerization of alkynes to form substituted benzenes.

High-Frequency Fe-H Vibrations in a Bridging Hydride Complex Characterized by NRVS and DFT

High-spin iron species with bridging hydrides have been detected in species trapped during nitrogenase catalysis, but there are few general methods of evaluating Fe-H bonds in high-spin multinuclear iron systems. An ⁵⁷ Fe nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) study on an Fe(μ-H)₂ Fe model complex reveals Fe-H stretching vibrations for bridging hydrides at frequencies greater than 1200 cm^-1 . These isotope-sensitive vibrational bands are not evident in infrared (IR) spectra, showing the power of NRVS for identifying hydrides in this high-spin iron system. Complementary density functional theory (DFT) calculations elucidate the normal modes of the rhomboidal iron hydride core.

Earth-Abundant Transition Metal Catalysts for Alkene Hydrosilylation and Hydroboration: Opportunities and Assessments

The addition of a silicon-hydrogen or a boron-hydrogen bond across a carbon-carbon multiple bonds is a well-established method for the introduction of versatile silane and borane functional groups to base hydrocarbon feedstocks. Transition metal catalysis, historically with precious second- and third- row transition metals, has been used to broaden the scope of the hydrofunctionalization reaction, improve reaction rate and enhance selectivity. The anti-Markovnikov selectivity of platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation of alkenes, for example, is an enabling synthetic technology in the multibillion-dollar silicones industry. Increased emphasis on sustainable catalytic methods and more economic processes has shifted focus to catalysis with more earth-abundant transition metals such as iron, cobalt and nickel. This review describes contemporary approaches and offers a contextual analysis of catalytic alkene hydrosilylation and hydroboration reactions using first-row transition metals. Emphasis is placed on defining advances in the field, what constitutes catalyst cost, safety, and important design features to enable precious metal-like reactivity, as well as new chemistry that is unique to first-row transition metals.

Pairwise H2/D2 Exchange and H2 Substitution at a Bimetallic Dinickel(II) Complex Featuring Two Terminal Hydrides

A compartmental ligand scaffold HL with two β-diketiminato binding sites spanned by a pyrazolate bridge gave a series of dinuclear nickel(II) dihydride complexes M[LNi₂(H)₂], M = Na (Na·2) and K (K·2), which were isolated after reacting the precursor complex [LNi₂(μ-Br)] (1) with MHBEt₃ (M = Na and K). Crystallographic characterization showed the two hydride ligands to be directed into the bimetallic pocket, closely interacting with the alkali metal cation. Treatment of K·2 with dibenzo(18-crown-6) led to the separated ion pair [LNi₂(H)₂][K(DB18C6)] (2[K(DB18C6)]). Reaction of Na·2 or K·2 with D₂ was investigated by a suite of ¹H and ²H NMR experiments, revealing an unusual pairwise H₂/D₂ exchange process that synchronously involves both Ni-H moieties without H/D scrambling. A mechanistic picture was provided by DFT calculations which suggested facile recombination of the two terminal hydrides within the bimetallic cleft, with a moderate enthalpic barrier of ∼62 kJ/mol, to give H₂ and an antiferromagnetically coupled [LNi^I₂]^- species. This was confirmed by SQUID monitoring during H₂ release from solid 2[K(DB18C6)]. Interaction with the Lewis acid cation (Na⁺ or K⁺) significantly stabilizes the dihydride core. Kinetic data for the M[L(Ni-H)₂] → H₂ transition derived from 2D ¹H EXSY spectra confirmed first-order dependence of H₂ release on M·2 concentration and a strong effect of the alkali metal cation M⁺. Treating [LNi₂(D)₂]^- with phenylacetylene led to D₂ and dinickel(II) complex 3^- with a twice reduced styrene-1,2-diyl bridging unit in the bimetallic pocket. Complexes [LNi^II₂(H)₂]^- having two adjacent terminal hydrides thus represent a masked version of a highly reactive dinickel(I) core. Storing two reducing equivalents in adjacent metal hydrides that evolve H₂ upon substrate binding is reminiscent of the proposed N₂ binding step at the FeMo cofactor of nitrogenase, suggesting the use of the present bimetallic scaffold for reductive bioinspired activation of a range of inert small molecules.

Noninnocent ligands: heteroleptic nickel complexes with α-diimine and 1,2-diketone derivatives

Reaction of the Ni-Ni-bonded compound [(Ni^IL˙^-)₂] (1, L = [(2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃)NC(Me)]₂) with various 1,2-diketones afforded a series of heteroleptic complexes: [LNi(PhC(O)-C(O)Ph)] (2), [LNi(PhC(O)-C(O)Me)] (3), [LNi(3,5-tBu₂C₆H₂O₂)] (4), and [(LNi){μ-η²,η²-(MeC(O)-C(O)Me)}(NiL)] (5). Furthermore, the complex [Na(Et₂O)][LNi{PhC(O)-C(O)Ph}] (6) was obtained by the reduction of 2 with 1.0 equiv. of Na metal. These complexes, which contain three potential redox-active centers, nickel and both α-diimine and 1,2-diketone ligands, were characterized by X-ray crystallography, NMR, EPR, and UV-vis-NIR spectra, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and DFT computations to elucidate their electronic structures.

Ligand controlled switchable selectivity in ruthenium catalyzed aerobic oxidation of primary amines

A ligand controlled catalytic system for the aerobic oxidation of 1° amines to nitriles and imines has been developed where the varying π-acidic feature of BIAN versus phen in the frameworks of ruthenium catalysts facilitates switchable selectivity.

Complexes of Ni(i): a “rare” oxidation state of growing importance

The synthesis and diverse structures, reactivity (small molecule activation and catalysis) and magnetic properties of Ni(i) complexes are summarized.

Synthesis and structural characterization of iron complexes bearing N-aryl-phenanthren-o-iminoquinone ligands

Treatments of N-aryl-phenanthren-o-iminoquinone (aryl = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃ (^MeL); 2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃ (^iPrL)) with iron powder in THF at 75 °C generate complexes [η²L]₂Fe[η¹LH] (1a, L = ^MeL; 1b, L = ^iPrL) in moderate yields. The X-ray crystallography analysis reveals that the molecule of 1b consists of a Fe(iii) center coordinated by three phenanthren-o-iminosemiquinone ligands, two of which are in an η² fashion while the remaining one is in an η¹ fashion. The analysis of the bond parameters of ligands indicates that the η²-fashioned ligands are radical anions and the η¹-fashioned one is in an aminephenolato form. Reactions of ^MeL and ^iPrL with FeCl₂ in THF produce Fe(iii) complexes [L]₂FeCl (2a, L = ^MeL; 2b, L = ^iPrL) with the two ligands in the radical anionic form. However, similar reactions of PIQ ligands with FeCl₂ in CH₂Cl₂ yield ion-pair complexes {[L]₂FeCl}⁺[FeCl₄]^- (3a, L = ^MeL; 3b, L = ^iPrL), in which the iron center chelated by two neutral ligands can be formulated as Fe(ii). Reduction of 2b with sodium provides a salt-type complex [^iPrL^2-]₂Fe(ii)Na₂ (4), in which a high spin Fe(ii) atom is ligated by two amidophenolate ligands, and the sodium atoms attached to the oxygen atoms of ligands are η³-coordinated by the aryl ring in amido moieties.

Reactivity of Hydride Bridges in High-Spin [3M-3(μ-H)] Clusters (M = FeII, CoII)

The designed [3M-3(μ-H)] clusters (M = Fe(II), Co(II)) Fe3H3L (1-H) and Co3H3L (2-H) [where L(3-) is a tris(β-diketiminate) cyclophane] were synthesized by treating the corresponding M3Br3L complexes with KBEt3H. From single-crystal X-ray analysis, the hydride ligands are sterically protected by the cyclophane ligand, and these complexes selectively react with CO2 over other unsaturated substrates (e.g., CS2, Me3SiCCH, C2H2, and CH3CN). The reaction of 1-H or 2-H with CO2 at room temperature yielded Fe3(OCHO)(H)2L (1-CO2) or Co3(OCHO)(H)2L (2-CO2), respectively, which evidence the differential reactivity of the hydride ligands within these complexes. The analogous reactions at elevated temperatures revealed a distinct difference in the reactivity pattern for 2-H as compared to 1-H; Fe3(OCHO)3L (1-3CO2) was generated from 1-H, while 2-H afforded only 2-CO2.

Reactions of α-diimine-aluminum complexes with sodium alkynides: versatile structures of aluminum σ-alkynide complexes

Reaction of AlCl(3) with the monoanionic α-diimine ligand [NaL] yielded the complex [L˙(-)Al(III)Cl(2)(-)] (1, L = [(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3))NC(Me)](2)), and subsequent reduction of by sodium metal afforded the mononuclear [L(2-)Al(III)Cl(-)(THF)] (2) and binuclear [L(2-)(THF)Al(II)-Al(II)(THF)L(2-)] (3). Compounds 2 and 3 exhibit interesting reactivities to sodium alkynides at room temperature. Treatment of dialumane 3 with 1 equiv. of 4-methylphenylacetylene in the presence of sodium metal yielded the asymmetric Al-Al-bonded compound [Na(Et(2)O)][LAl-Al(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C(C(6)H(4)-Me))L] (4) containing an alkynyl group attached to one of the Al atoms. The reaction of 2 with 4-methylphenylacetylene and Na (or sodium 4-methylphenylacetylide) resulted in the mononuclear product [L(THF)Al(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-(C(6)H(4)-Me))] (5) containing a single terminal acetylide ligand. Precursor 2 reacted with 2 equiv. of phenylacetylene (or 4-methylphenylacetylene, trimethylsilylacetylene) and Na to give the tweezer "ate" complexes, [Na(THF)(DME)][LAl(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CR)(2)] (R = C(6)H(5), ; C(6)H(4)-Me, ; Si(Me)(3), 6c), [Na(THF)](2)[LAl(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CPh)(2)](2)(μ-C(7)H(8)) (7), [Na(C(7)H(8))][(μ-Na)][LAl(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CSi(Me)(3))(2)](2) (8), as well as the polymeric [LAl(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]CPh)(2)Na](n) (9). In the products, two alkynyl groups coordinate terminally to one Al center and a sodium ion is embedded between these two alkynyls. Interestingly, both cycloaddition and terminal acetylide coordination of three equiv. of alkyne occurred in the reaction of with 1-hexyne, resulting in the unique dialuminum complex [Na(Et(2)O)](2)[{L(C(C(4)H(9))[double bond, length as m-dash]CH)}Al(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C(C(4)H(9)))(2)](2) (10). Complexes 1-10 have been characterized by NMR ((1)H, (13)C) and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction, and their electronic structures were studied by DFT calculations.

Metallacyclic yttrium alkyl and hydrido complexes: synthesis, structures and catalytic activity in intermolecular olefin hydrophosphination and hydroamination

Metallacyclic neutral and ionic yttrium alkyl complexes coordinated by a dianionic ene-diamido ligand ([2,6-iPr2C6H3NC(Me)=C(Me)NC6H3iPr2-2,6] = L(1)) [L(1)]Y(CH2SiMe3)(THF)2 (2), {[L(1)]Y(CH2SiMe3)2}(-){Li(THF)4}(+) (3), [L(1)]Y(OEt2)(μ-Me)2Li(TMEDA) (4) were synthesized using a salt-metathesis approach starting from the related chloro complex [L(1)]Y(THF)2(μ-Cl)2Li(THF)2 (1) in 70, 85 and 72% yields respectively. The reactions of 2 with H2 or PhSiH3 afford the dimeric hydride {[L(1)]Y(THF)(μ-H)}2(μ-THF) (5) containing two μ-bridging hydrido and one μ-bridging THF ligands (91 and 85% yields). The X-ray studies of complexes 2, 3 and 5 revealed η(2)-coordination of the C=C fragment of an ene-diamido ligand to a Y cation. DFT calculations were carried out to give an insight into the metal-ligand bonding and especially the interaction between the metal and the ene-diamido ligand. The observed bonding of the ene-diamido fragment is found to reflect the acidity of the metal center in the complex that is partially overcome by a better donation from the double bond (better overlap with an empty d orbital at the yttrium center). The treatment of complex 4 with DME resulted in the C-O bond cleavage of DME and afforded a three nuclear methoxide oxide complex [{[L(1)]Y}3(μ(2)-OMe)3(μ(3)-O)](2-)[Li(DME)3](+)2 (6). Complexes 2, 3, 5 and 7 proved to be efficient precatalysts for the intermolecular hydrophosphination of styrene, 4-vinylpyridine, and 1-nonene with PhPH2 and Ph2PH as well as hydroamination of styrene and pyrrolidine.

The ligand redox behavior and role in 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]-acenaphthene nickel–TMA(MAO) systems for ethylene polymerization

The BIAN ligand in the BIAN nickel–TMA(MAO) system is redox-active and plays a more important role than just acting as a neutral ligand.

An "intermediate spin" nickel hydride complex stemming from delocalized Ni2(μ-H)2 bonding

The nickel hydride complex [Cp'Ni(μ-H)]2 (1, Cp' = 1,2,3,4-tetraisopropylcyclopentadienyl) is found to have a strikingly short Ni-Ni distance of 2.28638(3) Å. Variable temperature and field magnetic measurements indicate an unexpected triplet ground state for 1 with a large zero-field splitting of +90 K (63 cm(-1)). Electronic structure calculations (DFT and CASSCF/CASPT2) explain this ground state as arising from half occupation of two nearly degenerate Ni-Ni π* orbitals.

Trinuclear Nickel Complexes with Metal-Arene Interactions Supported by Tris- and Bis(phosphinoaryl)benzene Frameworks

Triphosphine and diphosphine ligands with backbones designed to facilitate metal-arene interactions were employed to support multinuclear Ni complexes. Di- and trinuclear metal complexes supported by a triphosphine containing a triarylbenzene linker display diverse metal-arene binding modes. Multinuclear Ni halide complexes were isolated with strongly interacting metal centers bound to opposite faces of the coordinated arene. Upon reaction of the trinickel diiodide complex, 2, with disodium tetracarbonylferrate, a cofacial triangulo nickel(0) complex, 4, was isolated. The Ni03 cluster motif can also be supported by a para-terphenyldiphosphine, where a terminal carbon monoxide ligand replaces the third phosphine donor. All multinuclear complexes feature strong metal-arene interactions, demonstrating the use of an arene as a versatile ligand design element for small clusters.

Mono- and di-nuclear photoluminescent complexes of zinc(II), cadmium(II) and mercury(II) of a chiral diimine ligand

Reaction of α-pyridoin and N-phenyl-o-phenylenediamine affords 2-(2-(phenylamino)phenylimino)-1,2-di(pyridin-2-yl)ethanol (L) which undergoes cyclization to a chiral diimine, 2-methoxy-1-phenyl-2,3-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2-dihydroquinoxaline, L(OMe) (conjugated 14πe system) in the presence of zinc(II), cadmium(II) and mercury(II) ions affording [Zn(L(OMe))Cl2] (1), [Cd2(L(OMe))2Cl4] (2) and [Hg2(L(OMe))2Cl4] (3) complexes. Ligand L and complexes 1-3 are substantiated by elemental analyses, mass, IR, (1)H NMR and UV-vis spectra including the single-crystal X-ray structures of 1 and 3. The possibility of the atropisomerism of L is restricted in cyclic L(OMe). L and complexes 1-3 are fluorescent in fluid solutions at 298 K (CH2Cl2: 1, λ(ex) = 470 nm, λ(em) = 627 nm, Φ = 0.014, τ(avg) = 2.5 ns; 2, λ(ex) = 430 nm, λ(em) = 599 nm, Φ = 0.08, τ(avg) = 7.6 ns; 3, λ(ex) = 415 nm, λ(em) = 600 nm, Φ = 0.021, τ(avg) = 2.8 ns). Time-resolved emission spectra (TRES) established that the two-component lifetimes of 1-3 are due to the existence of two conformers. Density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent (TD) DFT calculations authenticated that 1-3 complexes are fluorescent due to intra-ligand charge transfer (ILCT) to the π(diimines)* orbital.