A Dual-Metal Strategy for N-Heterocycle Coordination Using Nickel and Aluminum

Abstract

Heterobimetallic Lewis acid/transition-metal systems aid heterocycle upgrading, yet well-defined cooperative examples remain scarce. We present a new ambiphilic phosphorus/aluminium ligand that preorganizes pyridine and quinoline for nickel coordination, affording well-defined co-activated η² heterocycle complexes that represent commonly proposed, but rarely observed, intermediates in N-heterocycle upgrading.