Issue 5, 2016

N-heterocyclic phosphenium and phosphido nickel complexes supported by a pincer ligand framework

Abstract

A chelating diphosphine ligand with a central N-heterocyclic phosphenium cation (NHP+) has been used to explore the coordination chemistry of NHPs with nickel. Treatment of the chlorophosphine precursor [PPP]Cl (1) with stoichiometric Ni(COD)2 affords (PPP)NiCl (8), which is best described as a NiII/NHP phosphido complex formed via oxidative addition of the P–Cl bond. In contrast, treating [PPP]Cl (1) with excess Ni(COD)2 results in a mixture of the trimetallic complex (PPP)2Ni3Cl2 (9) and the reduced NHP-bridged dimer [(PPP)Ni]2 (10). Compound 9 is found to be a NiIINiIINi0 complex in which the two NHP ligands act as bridging NHP phosphidos, while complex 10 is a NiINiI complex that is highly delocalized throughout the symmetric Ni2P2 core. In contrast, the reaction of [PPP][PF6] (11) with Ni(COD)2 affords an asymmetrically-bridged dication [(PPP)Ni]2[PF6]2 (12), which is found to contain two bridging NHP+ cations bridging two Ni0 centers. Comproportionation of 10 and 12 affords monocationic [(PPP)Ni]2[PF6] (13), completing the redox series. Nickel complexes 8–10 and 12 are largely similar to their Pd and Pt analogues, but a paramagnetic monocation such as 13 was not observed in the Pd and Pt case. Computational studies lend further insight into the electronic structure and bonding in complexes 8–10 and 12–13, and further support the potential redox non-innocent properties of NHP ligands.

Graphical abstract: N-heterocyclic phosphenium and phosphido nickel complexes supported by a pincer ligand framework

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 9 2015
Accepted
06 10 2015
First published
08 10 2015

Dalton Trans., 2016,45, 1918-1929

N-heterocyclic phosphenium and phosphido nickel complexes supported by a pincer ligand framework

D. A. Evers-McGregor, M. W. Bezpalko, B. M. Foxman and C. M. Thomas, Dalton Trans., 2016, 45, 1918 DOI: 10.1039/C5DT03549J

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