Reactions of biscyclopentadienylnickel with lithium and magnesium aryls

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(92)80217-L

The reaction of nickelocene with phenyllithium, ortho-, meta- and para-methylphenylmagnesium bromide, and 2-((dimethylamino)methyl)phenyllithium are studied.It was found that unstable compounds (R = H, o-, m-, p-CH3) are formed in those reactions.For R = CH2N(CH3)2, a stable compound, CpNiC6H4CH2N(CH3)2, is formed due to intramolecular coordination.In other cases, mainly coupling reactions occur and biphenyl, bitolyl and higher coupling products are formed.Compound is also formed as a product of thermal decomposition of Cp(η²-C2H4)NiC6H4R.It reacts further to form the same products as above.The mechanism of the coupling reactions is proposed and discussed.