(Fluoroalkyl)phosphine complexes of nickel(0) and cobalt(I)

The synthesis of a series of (fluoroalkyl)phosphine complexes of nickel is reported. Treatment of (cod)₂Ni with dfepe (dfepe=(C₂F₅)₂PCH₂CH₂P(C₂F₅)₂) yields (dfepe)Ni(cod) (1), which has been structurally characterized. Treatment of 1 with CO or bipy results in the formation of (dfepe)Ni(CO)₂ (2) and (dfepe)Ni(bipy) (3), respectively. Addition of excess dfepe to 1 results in incomplete cod displacement to form (dfepe)₂Ni (4). The homoleptic complex 4 may be independently prepared in high yield by reduction of (acac)₂Ni with (ⁱBu)₃Al in the presence of butadiene and excess dfepe. Solvation of (dfepe)Ni(cod) in acetonitrile gives a new complex tentatively identified as (dfepe)Ni(MeCN)₂ (6), whereas dissolution of (dfepe)₂Ni in acetonitrile leads to a mixture of 6 and the partial displacement product (dfepe)(η¹-dfepe)Ni(MeCN) (5). In contrast to (R₃P)₄Ni(0) phosphine and phosphite complexes, which undergo protonation by strong anhydrous acids such as HCl, H₂SO₄ and CF₃CO₂H to give (R₃P)₄Ni(H)⁺ products, Treatment of (dfepe)₂Ni with neat CF₃CO₂H or excess HOTf in dichloromethane gave no spectroscopic evidence for (dfepe)₂Ni(H)⁺. Exposure for extended periods leads to dfepe loss and decomposition to Ni(II) products. The synthesis of the first cobalt complex of dfepe, (dfepe)Co(CO)₂H, is also reported.