Kinetic study of the reactions of bis(cyclopentadienylcarbonylnickel) with ligands

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ic50106a008

The kinetics of the reactions between Cp₂Ni₂(CO)₂ (Cp = cyclopentadienyl) and mono- and bidentate ligands have been studied. The reaction with monodentate ligands proceeds by an SN2 mechanism, but the reaction with bidentate (acetylenic) ligands appears to be a two-stage mechanism with a reversible, first-order process as rate-determining step. The more probable mechanisms are discussed on the basis of the values of the activation parameters and the steric hindrance of the ligand.