title: N-donor functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene nickel(II) complexes in the Kumada coupling.
abstract: The synthesis and characterization of novel nickel(II) complexes bearing two bidentate N-heterocyclic carbene ligands functionalized with anionic N-donor moieties are described. Two different N-donor groups are employed, namely amido and benzimidazolato moieties. The solid-state structures of three of these complexes have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The amido-functionalized low-spin, square-planar Ni(II) complexes exhibit a cis geometry around the metal centre, while the benzimidazolato-functionalized complex crystallizes as the trans isomer. The activity of these novel complexes in the Kumada cross-coupling of phenylmagnesium chloride with 4-chloroanisole and 4-fluoroanisole was investigated. One of the benzimidazolato-functionalized complexes shows the highest activity in this reaction reported to date, yielding the desired product in quantitative yields within 30 min (4-chloroanisole), or 150 min (4-fluoroanisole) with only 1 mol% catalyst.
authors.affiliation: Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300, RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joris
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berding
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: van Dijkman
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Spek
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bouwman
mesh_terms: D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008024:Ligands; D008697:Methane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D008024:Ligands; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C030011:carbene; D009532:Nickel; D008697:Methane