Reactions of bis(hexamethylbenzene)iron(0) with carbon monoxide and with unsaturated hydrocarbons

Thermal decomposition of bis(hexamethylbenzene)iron(0) in the presence of carbon monoxide yields a novel carbonyl iron complex, [C₆(CH₃)₆]Fe(CO)₂. The cyclohexadiene complex [C₆(CH₃)₆]Fe(C₆H₈) is obtained from reaction of bis(hexamethylbenzene)iron(0) with either 1,3-cyclohexadiene or benzene, and the yield is much greater in the presence of hydrogen gas. Interaction of bis-(hexamethylbenzene)iron(0) with 2-butyne induces a catalytic cyclotrimerization to give more hexamethylbenzene. Kinetic and isotope distribution studies indicate that the primary step in these reactions is not a direct loss of one ring ligand, but rather an insertion of the iron center into one of the ligand methyl CH bonds, leading to a benzyl hydride complex species. Mechanisms for the subsequent reactions of this iron hydride species are proposed.     

Regioselectivity in nickel(0) catalyzed cycloadditions of carbon dioxide with diynes

The regioselectivity of Ni(0)-catalyzed cycloadditions of CO₂ (1 atm) with various asymmetrical diynes to afford pyrones was explored. The use of 1,3-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-imidazol-2-ylidene (IPr) provided high regioselectivity when one terminal substituent on the diyne was a methyl group and the other was medium or large in size (R_L=i-Pr, t-Bu, or TMS). In contrast, the use of a relatively small N-heterocyclic carbene, 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene (IMes), afforded high selectivity only when R_L was large (TMS). X-ray crystal analysis of the major isomer indicated that the relatively large R_L group was in the 3-position of the pyrone.     

Nickel(0)-mediated sequential addition of carbon dioxide and aryl aldehydes into terminal allenes

[reaction: see text] Nickel-mediated sequential addition of carbon dioxide and aryl aldehydes into terminal allenes is reported. The reaction proceeded in a diastereoselective manner to afford alpha-methylene-gamma-hydroxy carboxylic acids, which allowed stereoselective preparation of cis-beta, gamma-disubstituted alpha-methylene-gamma-lactones.     

The Sonogashira coupling reaction catalyzed by ultrafine nickel(0) powder

The Sonogashira coupling reaction catalyzed by ultrafine nickel(0) powder has been developed; terminal alkynes couple with aryl, alkenyl iodide and aryl bromide in the presence of cuprous iodide, triphenylphosphine, potassium hydroxide and ultrafine particle nickel(0) to provide the corresponding cross-coupling products with high yields.     

Methane conversion with carbon dioxide on nickel aluminides

The catalytic activity of several samples based on nickel aluminides in methane conversion with carbon dioxide was studied. Nickel aluminides were prepared by the method of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. The Ni₃Al system containing the nickel metal phase exhibited high activity at temperatures above 1073 K. The systems based on Ni₂Al₃ and NiAl only containing intermetallic compound phases were inactive.     

Transition metal promoted carboxylation of unsaturated substrates with carbon dioxide

The use of CO₂ as a C1 building block for the synthesis of useful chemicals is of great significance, and has attracted increasing attention in recent years. The transition metal catalyzed or mediated addition of CO₂ to unsaturated chemical bonds has proved to be a powerful and versatile protocol for the incorporation of CO₂ into various unsaturated organic substrates such as alkynes, alkenes, allenes, aldehydes, and 1,3-dienes. The hydrogenative, alkylative and arylative carboxylation, heterocarboxylation, and carboxylative cyclization with CO₂ have led to efficient and selective formation of various functionalized carboxylic acids and derivatives. This review focuses on recent advances in this area with emphasis on conceptual reaction design.     

Influence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding on magnetic properties of mononuclear cobalt and nickel pivalates with amidine ligands

The magnetic properties of the mononuclear cobalt(ii) amidine complex Co(Me₃CCOO)₂{H₂N(C₅H₃N)NH(MeC=NH} (1) having a tetrahedral structure and its solvate 1·HOOCCMe₃·0.5C₆H₆ (1a) are substantially different. Complex 1 possesses ferromagnetic properties and exhibits residual magnetization at liquid-helium temperatures, whereas solvate 1a and the octahedral amidine complex Ni(Me₃CCOO)₂{H₂N(C₅H₃N)NH(MeC=NH}·MeCN (3·MeCN) show antiferromagnetic properties. Apparently, this is associated with the difference in the type of intermolecular nonbonded interactions in the crystals of 1, 1a, and 3·MeCN, which form channels for spin-spin exchange. The tetrahedral isostructural mononuclear complexes ML₂ (M = Co (5), Ni (6), L is N-tosyl-2,5-dimethyl-8-aminoquinoline) were synthesized. These complexes exhibit antiferromagnetic properties.     

Reactions of Aluminium Tribromide with Tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(0) and Tetrakis(triethylphosphite)nickel(0) Complexes

Reactions of aluminium tribromide with the Ni(0) phosphine and phosphite complexes are studied by EPR method. AlBr₃was found to cause the oxidation of the transition metal in the (PPh₃)₄Ni complex to the univalent state with the formation of the tetracoordinated (PPh₃)₃NiBr complex. With an excess of AlBr₃, the phosphine ligands are eliminated from the coordination sphere of Ni(I), and the coordinatively unsaturated complexes are destroyed to give the colloidal nickel. In the reaction of (P(OEt)₃)₄Ni with AlBr₃, Ni(0) is also oxidized to Ni(I), but the acido ligand is not eliminated even with a 15-fold excess of the Lewis acid. The activity of catalytic systems on the basis of the Ni(0) phosphine complexes and the Lewis acids in the low-molecular oligomerization reactions of olefines is determined by the cationic coordinatively unsaturated Ni(I) complexes formed in these systems.     

Reactions ofbis(isopropylxanthato)nickel(II) with N-donor ligands

Summary Complexes of Ni^II with isopropylxanthate and Lewis bases as mixed N-ligands of composition [Ni(i-prxa)₂(L)] and [Ni(i-prxa)₂(L)₂] have been prepared, where i-prxa = i-C₃H₇OCS ₂ ^- , and L = ethylenediamine, 2,2-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline or 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline, and L =-picoline or benzothiazole. On the basis of their chemical analyses, i.r. and electronic spectra, magnetic measurements, thermal analyses and molar conductivities, an octahedral structure is proposed. The crystal and molecular structures of [Ni(i-prxa)₂(phen)] and [Ni(i-prxa)₂(btz)₂] were determined, showing oncis-octahedral andtrans-octahedral coordination spheres, respectively, with an NiS₄N₂ chromophore.     

Trans-bis(dicyanamido)nickel(II) complexes with polyaza macrocyclic ligands

Two new trans-bis(dicyanamido)nickel(II) macrocyclic complexes, [Ni(II)(L1){N(CN)₂}₂] · H₂O (1) and [Ni(II)-(L3){N(CN)₂}₂] (2), where L1 is 3,10-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3,5,8,10,12-hexaazacyclotetradecane and L3 is 3,14-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[14,4,0^1.18,0^7.12]docosane, have been synthesized and structurally characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic methods. In (1) and (2), each central nickel(II) ion possesses a distorted octahedral geometry with four equatorial nitrogen atoms from the macrocycle and two axial nitrogen atoms from dicyanamide anions, which are terminally bonded to the central nickel atom. The solid state electronic spectra of (1) and (2) using the diffuse reflectance method show a characteristic high-spin d⁸ nickel(II) ion in a distorted octahedral environment.