Unmasking the constitution and bonding of the proposed lithium nickelate "Li3NiPh3(solv)3": revealing the hidden C6H4 ligand

The coordination of alkali-metal nickelates to organic π-systems: synthetic, structural and spectroscopic insights

Low-valent nickelates have recently been shown to be key intermediates in challenging cross-coupling reactions using aryl ethers as electrophiles. Key for the success of these transformations is the activation of the substrate through π-coordination to the nickelate intermediate, however there is still limited knowledge about the fundamental structure and coordination chemistry of these heterobimetallic complexes. Herein, we report the synthesis, structures, and spectroscopic analysis of a diverse family of alkali-metal nickelates derived from phenyl-alkali-metal reagents and Ni(ttt-CDT), where ttt-CDT = trans,trans,trans-1,5,9-cyclododecatriene. The co-complexation of PhLi with Ni(ttt-CDT) was found to yield 1 : 1, 2 : 1 or 4 : 2 lithium nickelates depending on the stoichiometry and reaction conditions employed. The high lability of the ttt-CDT ligand enables facile ligand exchange with an assorted series of organic π-acceptors, ranging from polyaromatic hydrocarbons to ketones, imines and nitriles. For anthracene and phenanthrene, a homologous series of Li, Na and K nickelates could be obtained, which lead to different structural motifs or degrees of aggregation in the solid-state spanning solvated monomers to complex polymeric arrangements. For π-extended systems such as perylene or coronene, competing single-electron-transfer to give the corresponding radical anions was observed, illustrating the highly reducing nature of the alkali-metal nickelates. X-ray crystallographic analysis and NMR spectroscopy of the phenyl-alkali-metal nickelates reveal extreme back-bonding from Ni(0) to the organic π-acceptors due to strong σ-donation from the carbanionic ligands.

Stoichiometric and Catalytic Lithium Nickelate-Mediated C-F Bond Alkynylation of Fluoroarenes

Low-valent nickelates have recently been shown to be key intermediates that facilitate challenging cross-coupling reactions under mild conditions. Expanding the synthetic potential of these heterobimetallic complexes, herein we report the success of trilithium nickelate Li3(TMEDA)3Ni(C≡C-Ph)3 in promoting stoichiometric C-F activation of assorted aryl fluorides furnishing novel mixed Li/Ni(0) or Li/Ni(II) species depending on the substrate and conditions employed. These stoichiometric successes can be upgraded to catalytic regimes to enable the atom-efficient alkynylation of aryl fluorides and polyfluoroarenes with lithium acetylides and precatalyst Ni(COD)2, which operates without the intervention of external ligands, Cu cocatalysts, or additives.

Low-Valent Transition Metalate Anions in Synthesis, Small Molecule Activation, and Catalysis

This review surveys the synthesis and reactivity of low-oxidation state metalate anions of the d-block elements, with an emphasis on contributions reported between 2006 and 2022. Although the field has a long and rich history, the chemistry of transition metalate anions has been greatly enhanced in the last 15 years by the application of advanced concepts in complex synthesis and ligand design. In recent years, the potential of highly reactive metalate complexes in the fields of small molecule activation and homogeneous catalysis has become increasingly evident. Consequently, exciting applications in small molecule activation have been developed, including in catalytic transformations. This article intends to guide the reader through the fascinating world of low-valent transition metalates. The first part of the review describes the synthesis and reactivity of d-block metalates stabilized by an assortment of ligand frameworks, including carbonyls, isocyanides, alkenes and polyarenes, phosphines and phosphorus heterocycles, amides, and redox-active nitrogen-based ligands. Thereby, the reader will be familiarized with the impact of different ligand types on the physical and chemical properties of metalates. In addition, ion-pairing interactions and metal-metal bonding may have a dramatic influence on metalate structures and reactivities. The complex ramifications of these effects are examined in a separate section. The second part of the review is devoted to the reactivity of the metalates toward small inorganic molecules such as H2, N2, CO, CO2, P4 and related species. It is shown that the use of highly electron-rich and reactive metalates in small molecule activation translates into impressive catalytic properties in the hydrogenation of organic molecules and the reduction of N2, CO, and CO2. The results discussed in this review illustrate that the potential of transition metalate anions is increasingly being tapped for challenging catalytic processes with relevance to organic synthesis and energy conversion. Therefore, it is hoped that this review will serve as a useful resource to inspire further developments in this dynamic research field.

Shedding Light on the Hidden Roles of Lithium in the Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Aryl Ethers

The Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl ethers is a powerful synthetic tool to transform widely available phenol derivatives into functionalized aromatic molecules. Recent theoretical and experimental mechanistic studies have identified the involvement of heterobimetallic nickelates as key intermediates that facilitate the challenging transformation under mild conditions and often without the need for external ligands or additives. In this work, based on calculations performed at the density functional theory (DFT) level and by comparison with spectroscopic and kinetic data, we investigate the mechanism of the Ni(COD)2-catalyzed cross-coupling of 2-methoxynaphthalene with PhLi and assess the speciation of lithium nickelate intermediates. The crucial role of solvent on the reaction is explained, and the multiple roles played by lithium are unveiled. Experimental studies have identified key lithium nickelate species which support and help to evolve the calculated reaction mechanism and ultimately complete the catalytic cycle. Based on this new mechanistic knowledge, a well-known experimental challenge of these transformations, the so-called "naphthalene problem" which restricts the use of electrophilic coupling partners to π-extended systems, can be addressed to enable the cross-coupling of unbiased aryl ethers under mild conditions.

Organolithium aggregation as a blueprint to construct polynuclear lithium nickelate clusters

By exploiting the high aggregation of aliphatic lithium acetylides, here we report the synthesis and structural analysis of polynuclear lithium nickelate clusters in which up to 10 equivalents of organolithium can co-complex per Ni(0) centre. Exposure of the Ni(0)-ate clusters to dry air provides an alternative route to homoleptic Ni(II)-ates.

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.

Small molecule activation with bimetallic systems: a landscape of cooperative reactivity

There is growing interest in the design of bimetallic cooperative complexes, which have emerged due to their potential for bond activation and catalysis, a feature widely exploited by nature in metalloenzymes, and also in the field of heterogeneous catalysis. Herein, we discuss the widespread opportunities derived from combining two metals in close proximity, ranging from systems containing multiple M-M bonds to others in which bimetallic cooperation occurs even in the absence of M⋯M interactions. The choice of metal pairs is crucial for the reactivity of the resulting complexes. In this context, we describe the prospects of combining not only transition metals but also those of the main group series, which offer additional avenues for cooperative pathways and reaction discovery. Emphasis is given to mechanisms by which bond activation occurs across bimetallic structures, which is ascribed to the precise synergy between the two metal atoms. The results discussed herein indicate a future landscape full of possibilities within our reach, where we anticipate that bimetallic synergism will have an important impact in the design of more efficient catalytic processes and the discovery of new catalytic transformations.

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.