Effect of a Nickel Bipyridyl Complex on the Reduction of Organic Halides

Indirect reduction of 1-phenylethylbromide (I) and 1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethylchloride (II) in a carbon dioxide atmosphere containing tris(2,2-bipyridyl)nickel tetrafluoroborate (BPN) is studied. In the reactions the BPN complex exhibits properties of a one-electron mediator and catalyzes radical generation from aryl halides, which mostly undergo dimerization. Electroreduction of I and II in the presence of -cyclodextrin and BPN yields biaryls with a low enanthioselectivity (1.5%), which may indicate generation of a small amount of inclusion complexes and dimerization of intermediate radicals in the hydrophobic cavity of -cyclodextrin.