Binuclear,High‐Valent Nickel Complexes: Ni−Ni Bonds in Aryl–Halogen Bond Formation

Metal–metal bonds play a vital role in stabilizing key intermediates in bond‐formation reactions. We report that binuclear benzo[h ]quinoline‐ligated Ni^II complexes, upon oxidation, undergo reductive elimination to form carbon–halogen bonds. A mixed‐valent Ni(2.5+)–Ni(2.5+) intermediate is isolated. Further oxidation to Ni^III, however, is required to trigger reductive elimination. The binuclear Ni^III–Ni^III intermediate lacks a Ni−Ni bond. Each Ni^III undergoes separate, but fast reductive elimination, giving rise to Ni^I species. The reactivity of these binuclear Ni complexes highlights the fundamental difference between Ni and Pd in mediating bond‐formation processes.     

Binuclear,High‐Valent Nickel Complexes: Ni−Ni Bonds in Aryl–Halogen Bond Formation

Metal–metal bonds play a vital role in stabilizing key intermediates in bond‐formation reactions. We report that binuclear benzo[h ]quinoline‐ligated Ni^II complexes, upon oxidation, undergo reductive elimination to form carbon–halogen bonds. A mixed‐valent Ni(2.5+)–Ni(2.5+) intermediate is isolated. Further oxidation to Ni^III, however, is required to trigger reductive elimination. The binuclear Ni^III–Ni^III intermediate lacks a Ni−Ni bond. Each Ni^III undergoes separate, but fast reductive elimination, giving rise to Ni^I species. The reactivity of these binuclear Ni complexes highlights the fundamental difference between Ni and Pd in mediating bond‐formation processes.     

A Tetracoordinated Phosphasalen Nickel(III) Complex

The oxidation of a Ni^II complex bearing a tetradentate phosphasalen ligand, which differs from salen by the presence of an iminophosphorane (P?N) in place of an imine unit, was easily achieved by addition of a silver salt. The site of this oxidation was investigated with a combination of techniques (NMR, EPR, UV/Vis spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, magnetic measurements) as well as DFT calculations. All data are in agreement with a high‐valent Ni^III center concentrating the spin density. This markedly differs from precedents in the salen series for which oxidation on the metal was only observed at low temperature or in the presence of additional ligands or anions. Therefore, thanks to the good electron‐donating properties of the phosphasalen ligand, [Ni(Psalen)]⁺ represents a rare example of a tetracoordinated high‐valent nickel complex in presence of a phenoxide ligand.     

Impact of Oxidation State on Reactivity and Selectivity Differences between Nickel(III) and Nickel(IV) Alkyl Complexes

Described is a systematic comparison of factors impacting the relative rates and selectivities of C(sp³)?C and C(sp³)?O bond‐forming reactions at high‐valent Ni as a function of oxidation state. Two Ni complexes are compared: a cationic octahedral Ni^IV complex ligated by tris(pyrazolyl)borate and a cationic octahedral Ni^III complex ligated by tris(pyrazolyl)methane. Key features of reactivity/selectivity are revealed: 1) C(sp³)?C(sp²) bond‐forming reductive elimination occurs from both centers, but the Ni^III complex reacts up to 300‐fold faster than the Ni^IV, depending on the reaction conditions. The relative reactivity is proposed to derive from ligand dissociation kinetics, which vary as a function of oxidation state and the presence/absence of visible light. 2) Upon the addition of acetate (AcO^?), the Ni^IV complex exclusively undergoes C(sp³)?OAc bond formation, while the Ni^III analogue forms the C(sp³)?C(sp²) coupled product selectively. This difference is rationalized based on the electrophilicity of the respective M?C(sp³) bonds, and thus their relative reactivity towards outer‐sphere S_N2‐type bond‐forming reactions.     

Reactivity of a Nickel(II) Bis(amidate) Complex with meta‐Chloroperbenzoic Acid: Formation of a Potent Oxidizing Species

Herein, we report the formation of a highly reactive nickel–oxygen species that has been trapped following reaction of a Ni^II precursor bearing a macrocyclic bis(amidate) ligand with meta‐chloroperbenzoic acid (HmCPBA). This compound is only detectable at temperatures below 250 K and is much more reactive toward organic substrates (i.e., C?H bonds, C?C bonds, and sulfides) than previously reported well‐defined nickel–oxygen species. Remarkably, this species is formed by heterolytic O?O bond cleavage of a Ni–HmCPBA precursor, which is concluded from experimental and computational data. On the basis of spectroscopy and DFT calculations, this reactive species is proposed to be a Ni^III–oxyl compound.     

Fast Hydrocarbon Oxidation by a High‐Valent Nickel–Fluoride Complex

In the search for highly reactive oxidants we have identified high‐valent metal–fluorides as a potential potent oxidant. The high‐valent Ni–F complex [Ni^III(F)(L)] ( 2 , L=N,N′‐(2,6‐dimethylphenyl)‐2,6‐pyridinedicarboxamidate) was prepared from [Ni^II(F)(L)]^? ( 1 ) by oxidation with selectfluor. Complexes 1 and 2 were characterized by using ¹H/¹⁹F NMR, UV‐vis, and EPR spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, and X‐ray crystallography. Complex 2 was found to be a highly reactive oxidant in the oxidation of hydrocarbons. Kinetic data and products analysis demonstrate a hydrogen atom transfer mechanism of oxidation. The rate constant determined for the oxidation of 9,10‐dihydroanthracene (k₂=29 m ^?1 s^?1) compared favorably with the most reactive high‐valent metallo‐oxidants. Complex 2 displayed reaction rates 2000–4500‐fold enhanced with respect to [Ni^III(Cl)(L)] and also displayed high kinetic isotope effect values. Oxidative hydrocarbon and phosphine fluorination was achieved. Our results provide an interesting direction in designing catalysts for hydrocarbon oxidation and fluorination     

Comparison of dppf‐Supported Nickel Precatalysts for the Suzuki–Miyaura Reaction: The Observation and Activity of Nickel(I)

Ni‐based precatalysts for the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction have potential chemical and economic advantages compared to commonly used Pd systems. Here, we compare Ni precatalysts for the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction supported by the dppf ligand in 3 oxidation states, 0, I and II. Surprisingly, at 80 °C they give similar catalytic activity, with all systems generating significant amounts of Ni^I during the reaction. At room temperature a readily accessible bench‐stable Ni^II precatalyst is highly active and can couple synthetically important heterocyclic substrates. Our work conclusively establishes that Ni^I species are relevant in reactions typically proposed to involve exclusively Ni⁰ and Ni^II complexes.     

CH Activation of Benzene by a Photoactivated NiII(azide): Formation of a Transient Nickel Nitrido Complex

Photochemical activation of nickel‐azido complex 2 [Ni(N₃)(PNP)] (PN^HP=2,2′‐di(isopropylphosphino)‐4,4′‐ditolylamine) in neat benzene produces diamagnetic complex 3 [Ni(Ph)(PN^PN^H)], which is crystallographically characterized. DFT calculations support photoinitiated N₂‐loss of the azido complex to generate a rare, transient Ni^IV nitrido species, which bears significant nitridyl radical character. Subsequent trapping of this nitrido through insertion into the Ni? P bond generates a coordinatively unsaturated Ni^II imidophosphorane P?N donor. This species shows unprecedented reactivity toward 1,2‐addition of a C? H bond of benzene to form 3 . The structurally characterized chlorido complex 4 [Ni(Cl)(PN^PN^H)] is generated by reaction of 3 with HCl or by direct photolysis of 2 in chlorobenzene. This is the first report of aromatic C? H bond activation by a trapped transient nitrido species of a late transition metal.     

Porphyrins Fused to N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHCs): Modulation of the Electronic and Catalytic Properties of NHCs by the Central Metal of the Porphyrin

We report herein a detailed study of the use of porphyrins fused to imidazolium salts as precursors of N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands 1 M . Rhodium(I) complexes 6 M – 9 M were prepared by using 1 M ligands with different metal cations in the inner core of the porphyrin (M=Ni^II, Zn^II, Mn^III, Al^III, 2H). The electronic properties of the corresponding N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands were investigated by monitoring the spectroscopic changes occurring in the cod and CO ancillary ligands of [( 1 M )Rh(cod)Cl] and [( 1 M )Rh(CO)₂Cl] complexes (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene). Porphyrin–NHC ligands 1 M with a trivalent metal cation such as Mn^III and Al^III are overall poorer electron donors than porphyrin–NHC ligands with no metal cation or incorporating a divalent metal cation such as Ni^II and Zn^II. Imidazolium salts 3 M (M=Ni, Zn, Mn, 2H) have also been used as NHC precursors to catalyze the ring‐opening polymerization of L ‐lactide. The results clearly show that the inner metal of the porphyrin has an important effect on the reactivity of the outer carbene.     

Bis(2‐{1‐[(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)imino]ethyl}pyrrol‐1‐ido‐κ2N,N′)nickel(II): a supramolecular structure formed by C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds

<!?tlsb=‐0.2pt>Nitrogen‐based polydentate ligands are of interest owing to their flexible complexation to transition metal atoms. For the title compound, [Ni(C₁₅H₁₇N₂)₂], a transition metal complex formed by the coordination of two identical N,N′‐bidentate mono(imino)pyrrolyl ligands to an Ni^II centre, an X‐ray crystal diffraction study indicates that the two ligands show an inverted arrangement with respect to one another around the Ni^II centre, which is located on a crystallographic inversion centre. The planes of the aromatic substituents at the imine N atoms of the ligands show dihedral angles of 85.91 (5)° with respect to the NiN₄ plane. The Ni—N bond lengths are in the range 1.9072 (15)–1.9330 (15) Å and the N_imino—Ni—N_pyrrole bite angles are 83.18 (6)°. The Ni—N_pyrrole bond is substantially shorter than the Ni—N_imino bond. Molecules are linked into an extensive network by means of intermolecular C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds in which every molecule acts both as hydrogen‐bond donor and acceptor. The supramolecular assembly takes the form of an infinite two‐dimensional sheet.     

Four Oxidation States in a Single Photoredox Nickel‐Based Catalytic Cycle: A Computational Study

The computational characterization of the full catalytic cycle for the synthesis of indoline from the reaction between iodoacetanilide and a terminal alkene catalyzed by a nickel complex and a photoactive ruthenium species is presented. A variety of oxidation states of nickel, Ni⁰, Ni^I, Ni^II, and Ni^III, is shown to participate in the mechanism. Ni⁰ is necessary for the oxidative addition of the C?I bond, which goes through a Ni^I intermediate and results in a Ni^II species. The Ni^II species inserts into the alkene, but does not undergo the reductive elimination necessary for C?N bond formation. This oxidatively induced reductive elimination can be accomplished only after oxidation to Ni^III by the photoactive ruthenium species. All the reaction steps are computationally characterized, and the barriers for the single‐electron transfer steps calculated using a modified version of the Marcus Theory.     

Mixed‐Valence Nickel Bis(azamacrocycle) Compounds with Ghost‐Leg‐type Sheets

The fabrication of so‐called ghost‐leg sheets and their electronic properties is reported. This unique sheet structure is composed of one‐dimensional mixed‐valence nickel chains, which are linked with one another by bis(azamacrocycle) ligands. They are also topologically unique Ni^II/Ni^III mixed‐valence complexes, as confirmed by X‐ray and optical measurements. Moreover, their magnetic susceptibilities indicated two‐dimensional antiferromagnetic behavior following the Fisher 1D chain model with interchain interactions, where spins on Ni^III sites mutually interact antiferromagnetically in the sheets.     

C?H Bond Activation by Metal–Superoxo Species: What Drives High Reactivity?

Metal–superoxo species are ubiquitous in metalloenzymes and bioinorganic chemistry and are known for their high reactivity and their ability to activate inert C? H bonds. The comparative oxidative abilities of M–O₂^.? species (M=Cr^III, Mn^III, Fe^III, and Cu^II) towards C? H bond activation reaction are presented. These superoxo species generated by oxygen activation are found to be aggressive oxidants compared to their high‐valent metal–oxo counterparts generated by O???O bond cleavage. Our calculations illustrate the superior oxidative abilities of Fe^III– and Mn^III–superoxo species compared to the others and suggest that the reactivity may be correlated to the magnetic exchange parameter.     

Group 9 Metal Complexes of meso‐Aryl‐Substituted Rubyrin

The metalation of meso‐tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)‐substituted [26]rubyrin has been explored with Group 9 metal salts (Rh^I, Co^II, Ir^III), affording a Hückel aromatic [26]rubyrin–bis‐Rh^I complex with a highly curved gable‐like structure, a Hückel antiaromatic [24]rubyrin–bis‐Co^II complex that displays intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling between the two Co^II ions (J=?4.5 cm^?1), and two Cp*‐capped Ir^III complexes; in one, the iridium metal sits on the [26]rubyrin frame with two Ir?N bonds, whereas the other has an additional Ir?C bond, although both Ir^III complexes display moderate aromatic character. This work demonstrates characteristic metalation abilities of this [26]rubyrin toward Group 9 metals.     

Controlled Synthesis of Heterotrimetallic Single‐Chain Magnets from Anisotropic High‐Spin 3 d–4 f Nodes and Paramagnetic Spacers

By using the node‐and‐spacer approach in suitable solvents, four new heterotrimetallic 1D chain‐like compounds (that is, containing 3d–3d′–4f metal ions), {[Ni(L)Ln(NO₃)₂(H₂O)Fe(Tp*)(CN)₃] ? 2 CH₃CN ? CH₃OH}_n (H₂L=N,N′‐bis(3‐methoxysalicylidene)‐1,3‐diaminopropane, Tp*=hydridotris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)borate; Ln=Gd ( 1 ), Dy ( 2 ), Tb ( 3 ), Nd ( 4 )), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. All of these compounds are made up of a neutral cyanide‐ and phenolate‐bridged heterotrimetallic chain, with a {? Fe? C?N? Ni(? O? Ln)? N?C? }_n repeat unit. Within these chains, each [(Tp*)Fe(CN)₃]^? entity binds to the Ni^II ion of the [Ni(L)Ln(NO₃)₂(H₂O)]⁺ motif through two of its three cyanide groups in a cis mode, whereas each [Ni(L)Ln(NO₃)₂(H₂O)]⁺ unit is linked to two [(Tp*)Fe(CN)₃]^? ions through the Ni^II ion in a trans mode. In the [Ni(L)Ln(NO₃)₂(H₂O)]⁺ unit, the Ni^II and Ln^III ions are bridged to one other through two phenolic oxygen atoms of the ligand (L). Compounds 1 – 4 are rare examples of 1D cyanide‐ and phenolate‐bridged 3d–3d′–4f helical chain compounds. As expected, strong ferromagnetic interactions are observed between neighboring Fe^III and Ni^II ions through a cyanide bridge and between neighboring Ni^II and Ln^III (except for Nd^III) ions through two phenolate bridges. Further magnetic studies show that all of these compounds exhibit single‐chain magnetic behavior. Compound 2 exhibits the highest effective energy barrier (58.2 K) for the reversal of magnetization in 3d/4d/5d–4f heterotrimetallic single‐chain magnets.     

Near‐IR Absorbing Nickel(II) Porphyrinoids Prepared by Regioselective Insertion of Silylenes into Antiaromatic Nickel(II) Norcorrole

The treatment of an antiaromatic norcorrole Ni^II complex with a kinetically stabilized silylene provided ring‐expansion products in excellent yields through the highly regio‐ and stereoselective insertion into the β‐β pyrrolic C? C bonds. The resultant Ni^II porphyrinoid monoinsertion product exhibited relatively strong near‐IR absorption bands due to the small HOMO–LUMO gap in spite of the disrupted cyclic π‐conjugation by the silicon atom.     

Highly Stereoselective Cobalt(III)‐Catalyzed Three‐Component C−H Bond Addition Cascade

A highly stereoselective three‐component C(sp²)?H bond addition across alkene and polarized π‐bonds is reported for which Co^III catalysis was shown to be much more effective than Rh^III. The reaction proceeds at ambient temperature with both aryl and alkyl enones employed as efficient coupling partners. Moreover, the reaction exhibits extremely broad scope with respect to the aldehyde input; electron rich and poor aromatic, alkenyl, and branched and unbranched alkyl aldehydes all couple in good yield and with high diastereoselectivity. Multiple directing groups participate in this transformation, including pyrazole, pyridine, and imine functional groups. Both aromatic and alkenyl C(sp²)?H bonds undergo the three‐component addition cascade, and the alkenyl addition product can readily be converted into diastereomerically pure five‐membered lactones. Additionally, the first asymmetric reactions with Co^III‐catalyzed C?H functionalization are demonstrated with three‐component C?H bond addition cascades employing N‐tert‐butanesulfinyl imines. These examples represent the first transition metal catalyzed C?H bond additions to N‐tert‐butanesulfinyl imines, which are versatile and extensively used intermediates for the asymmetric synthesis of amines.     

Hydrogen‐Atom Abstraction Reactions by Manganese(V)– and Manganese(IV)–Oxo Porphyrin Complexes in Aqueous Solution

High‐valent manganese(IV or V)–oxo porphyrins are considered as reactive intermediates in the oxidation of organic substrates by manganese porphyrin catalysts. We have generated Mn^V– and Mn^IV–oxo porphyrins in basic aqueous solution and investigated their reactivities in C? H bond activation of hydrocarbons. We now report that Mn^V– and Mn^IV–oxo porphyrins are capable of activating C? H bonds of alkylaromatics, with the reactivity order of Mn^V–oxo>Mn^IV–oxo; the reactivity of a Mn^V–oxo complex is 150 times greater than that of a Mn^IV–oxo complex in the oxidation of xanthene. The C? H bond activation of alkylaromatics by the Mn^V– and Mn^IV–oxo porphyrins is proposed to occur through a hydrogen‐atom abstraction, based on the observations of a good linear correlation between the reaction rates and the C? H bond dissociation energy (BDE) of substrates and high kinetic isotope effect (KIE) values in the oxidation of xanthene and dihydroanthracene (DHA). We have demonstrated that the disproportionation of Mn^IV–oxo porphyrins to Mn^V–oxo and Mn^III porphyrins is not a feasible pathway in basic aqueous solution and that Mn^IV–oxo porphyrins are able to abstract hydrogen atoms from alkylaromatics. The C? H bond activation of alkylaromatics by Mn^V– and Mn^IV–oxo species proceeds through a one‐electron process, in which a Mn^IV–‐oxo porphyrin is formed as a product in the C? H bond activation by a Mn^V–oxo porphyrin, followed by a further reaction of the Mn^IV–oxo porphyrin with substrates that results in the formation of a Mn^III porphyrin complex. This result is in contrast to the oxidation of sulfides by the Mn^V–oxo porphyrin, in which the oxidation of thioanisole by the Mn^V–oxo complex produces the starting Mn^III porphyrin and thioanisole oxide. This result indicates that the oxidation of sulfides by the Mn^V–oxo species occurs by means of a two‐electron oxidation process. In contrast, a Mn^IV–oxo porphyrin complex is not capable of oxidizing sulfides due to a low oxidizing power in basic aqueous solution.     

A Novel Self‐assembled Nickel(II)‐Cerium(III) Heterotetranuclear Dimer Constructed from N2O2‐type Bisoxime and Terephthalic Acid: Synthesis,Structure, and Photophysical Properties

By self‐assembly of a Salamo‐type ligand H₂L [H₂L = 1,2‐bis(3‐methoxysalicylideneaminooxy)ethane] with Ni(OAc)₂ · 4H₂O, Ce(NO₃)₃ · 6H₂O, and H₂bdc (H₂bdc = terephthalic acid), a novel Ni^II‐Ce^III heterometallic complex, [{Ni(L)Ce(NO₃)₂(CH₃OH)(DMF)}₂(bdc)], was obtained. Two crystallographically equivalent [Ni(L)Ce(NO₃)₂(CH₃OH)(DMF)] moieties lie in the inversion center, and are linked by one bdc^2– ligand leading to a heterotetranuclear dimer, in which the carboxylato group bridges the Ni^II and Ce^III atoms. Moreover, the photophysical properties of the Ni^II‐Ce^III complex were studied.