摘要:
The reactivity of (PNP)Ni-I, where PNP = ((Bu2PCH2SiMe2)-Bu-t)(2)N, with oxidants was evaluated. Towards the nitroxyl TEMPO, a 1:1 adduct is formed which was shown to have eta(2)-TEMPO bound through both N and O, with the consequence that one P of the PNP ligand is displaced, leaving the pincer ligand bidentate to Ni-II. DFT calculations show that the bidentate character of TEMPO is due to steric clash between Bu-t and TEMPO ring methyl groups. Reaction of (PNP)Ni with I-2, Br-2, C2Cl6 and even CH2Cl2 all yield (PNP)(NiX)-X-II, but never (PNP)(NiX2)-X-III. Excess Br-2 instead oxidizes one phosphorus, yielding the zwitterion [((BrBu2PCH2SiMe2)-Bu-t)N((SiMe2CH2PBu2)-Bu-t)]NiBr2, whose structure is determined. DFT calculation of the species (PNP)Ni-III(Br)(2) yields reaction thermodynamics which show the reason for its absence, and also shows the low BDE of its Ni-Br bond. (PNP)Ni slowly catalyzes the polymerization of HCCR (R = H or Ph), but gives no detectable conversion to a new alkyne-derived nickel complex. (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.