Reactions of methyl and ethyl halides with the complexes Ni[P(C2H5)3]4 and Ni(X)[P(C2H5)3]3

The rates of the thermal reaction of the nickel(0) complex Ni[P(C₂H₅)₃]₄ with the alkyl halides CH₃Br, CH₃I in toluene have been compared with those of the reactions of the nickel(I) complexes Ni(X)[P(C₂H₅)₃]₃ (X  Br,I). The organic products from CH₃X are methane and ethane, and those from C₂H₅I are ethane and ethylene. The reactivity of the nickel(I) complexes is 10–20 times less than that of the nickel(0) complex. The result suggest that the first step of the reaction of nickel(0) with CH₃I is the expected oxidative addition of the halide to the metal substrate. The intermediate thus formed decomposes to produce ethane (and small amounts of methane) without further reaction with the organic halide. This mechanism is supported by deuterium-labeling experiments.