Amido pincer complexes of Nickel(II): Synthesis, structure, and reactivity

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om050943a

A series of diamagnetic divalent nickel complexes supported by a tridentate amido diphosphine ligand [N(o-C₆H₄PR₂) ₂]^- ([R-PNP]^-; R = Ph, ⁱPr, Cy) have been prepared and characte

Full text of DOI:10.1021/om050943a

Organometallics 2006, 25, 1399-1411
1399
Amido Pincer Complexes of Nickel(II): Synthesis, Structure, and
Reactivity
Lan-Chang Liang,*,† Pin-Shu Chien,† Jia-Ming Lin,† Mei-Hui Huang,† Yu-Lun Huang,† and
Ju-Hsiou Liao‡
Department of Chemistry and Center for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, National Sun Yat-sen UniVersity,
Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan, Republic of China, and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
National Chung Cheng UniVersity, Chia-Yi 621, Taiwan, Republic of China
ReceiVed NoVember 2, 2005
A series of diamagnetic divalent nickel complexes supported by a tridentate amido diphosphine ligand
[N(o-C6H4PR2)2]- ([R-PNP]-; R ) Ph, iPr, Cy) have been prepared and characterized. Deprotonation of
H[Ph-PNP], H[iPr-PNP], and H[Cy-PNP] with n-BuLi in ethereal solutions at -35 °C produced the
lithium complexes [Ph-PNP]Li(THF)2, [iPr-PNP]Li(solv) (solv ) THF, Et2O), and [Cy-PNP]Li(solv)
(solv ) THF, Et2O), respectively. The reactions of [R-PNP]Li(solv)n with NiCl2(DME) in THF at -35
°C generated [R-PNP]NiCl, which was then reacted with a variety of Grignard reagents to afford the
corresponding hydrocarbyl complexes [R-PNP]NiR′ (R ) Ph, R′ ) Me, Et, n-Bu, i-Bu, n-hexyl, CH2-
i
SiMe3, Ph; R ) Pr, R′ ) Me, Et, n-Bu; R ) Cy, R′ ) Me, Et, n-Bu). Of particular interest among the
compounds isolated are alkyl complexes that contain â-hydrogen atoms. Treatment of the hydrocarbyl
complexes with halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane, benzyl bromide, and phenyl iodide
produced the corresponding nickel halide derivatives. The chloride complexes [Ph-PNP]NiCl, [iPr-PNP]-
NiCl, and [Cy-PNP]NiCl are all active catalyst precursors for Kumada coupling reactions, including
those of alkyls containing â-hydrogen atoms. In addition to spectroscopic data for all new compounds,
X-ray structures of [Cy-PNP]Li(OEt2), [Ph-PNP]NiCl, [Ph-PNP]NiBr, [Ph-PNP]NiMe, [Ph-PNP]Ni(n-
Bu), [Ph-PNP]NiCH2SiMe3, [iPr-PNP]NiCl, [iPr-PNP]NiMe, [iPr-PNP]Ni(n-Bu), and [Cy-PNP]NiMe are
presented.
work in our laboratory has focused on the preparation and
reactivity exploration of new amido phosphine complexes of
both main group15-17 and transition metals.18-20 In particular,
we found that nickel complexes of the tridentate amido
phosphine ligand [N(o-C6H4PPh2)2]-, including alkyl complexes
that contain â-hydrogen atoms, are thermally stable.21 In
contrast, analogous compounds of the bidentate [o-(2,6-
iPr2C6H3N)C6H4PPh2]- and [o-(2,6-Me2C6H3N)C6H4PPh2]-19
were not synthetically accessible.22 Notably, NiEt[N(o-C6H4-
PPh2)2] is the only ethyl complex reported thus far among these
and the closely related [N(SiMe2CH2PPh2)2]- 23 ligand systems.
We were thus interested in organometallic chemistry involving
ligands of the general type [N(o-C6H4PR2)2]- ([R-PNP]-; R )
Introduction
â-Hydrogen elimination is one of the primary decomposition
pathways for organometallic complexes.1,2 The search for
appropriate methods to effectively control the stability and
reactivity of transition metal alkyl complexes that contain
â-hydrogen atoms has thus played an essential role in organo-
metallic chemistry. These compounds are often key intermedi-
ates that determine reaction mechanisms and scopes such as
those found in catalytic olefin polymerization3-6 and cross-
coupling reactions7-14 mediated by late transition metals. Recent
* Corresponding author. E-mail: lcliang@mail.nsysu.edu.tw. Fax: +886-
7-5253908.
† National Sun Yat-sen University.
‡ National Chung Cheng University.
(12) Jensen, A. E.; Knochel, P. J. Org. Chem. 2002, 67, 79-85.
(13) Terao, J.; Watanabe, H.; Ikumi, A.; Kuniyasu, H.; Kambe, N. J.
Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 4222-4223.
(1) Crabtree, R. H. The Organometallic Chemistry of the Transition
Metals, 4th ed.; Wiley-Interscience: Hoboken, 2005; pp 199-200.
(2) Collman, J. P.; Hegedus, L. S.; Norton, J. R.; Finke, R. G. Principles
and Applications of Organotransition Metal Chemistry; University Science
Books: Mill Valley, 1987; pp 386-389.
(14) Terao, J.; Ikumi, A.; Kuniyasu, H.; Kambe, N. J. Am. Chem. Soc.
2003, 125, 5646-5647.
(15) Lee, W.-Y.; Liang, L.-C. Dalton Trans. 2005, 1952-1956.
(16) Liang, L.-C.; Huang, M.-H.; Hung, C.-H. Inorg. Chem. 2004, 43,
2166-2174.
(3) Ittel, S. D.; Johnson, L. K.; Brookhart, M. Chem. ReV. 2000, 100,
1169-1203.
(4) Britovsek, G. J. P.; Gibson, V. C.; Wass, D. F. Angew. Chem., Int.
Ed. 1999, 38, 429-447.
(17) Liang, L.-C.; Lee, W.-Y.; Hung, C.-H. Inorg. Chem. 2003, 42,
5471-5473.
(5) Jenkins, J. C.; Brookhart, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 5827-
(18) Chien, P.-S.; Liang, L.-C. Inorg. Chem. 2005, 44, 5147-5151.
(19) Liang, L.-C.; Lee, W.-Y.; Yin, C.-C. Organometallics 2004, 23,
3538-3547.
5842.
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24, 353-357.
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3007-3009.
(8) Zhou, J. R.; Fu, G. C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 12527-12530.
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3204.
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(11) Netherton, M. R.; Dai, C. Y.; Neuschutz, K.; Fu, G. C. J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 2001, 123, 10099-10100.
(22) We note that attempts to prepare NiEt[o-(2,6-iPr2C6H3N)C6H4PPh2]
from the reaction of {NiCl[o-(2,6-iPr2C6H3N)C6H4PPh2]}2 with EtMgCl in
THF at -35 °C led to intractable materials: Lee, W.-Y. Unpublished result.
(23) Fryzuk, M. D.; Macneil, P. A.; Rettig, S. J.; Secco, A. S.; Trotter,
J. Organometallics 1982, 1, 918-930.
10.1021/om050943a CCC: $33.50 © 2006 American Chemical Society
Publication on Web 02/01/2006

1400 Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006
Scheme 1. Preparation of Amido Pincer Ligand Precursors
Liang et al.
Scheme 2. Preparation of Lithium Complexes
aryl or alkyl). These ligands fall into the category of the popular
pincer compounds that are currently under extensive in-
vestigation.24-29 Herein we describe the preparation and char-
acterization of nickel complexes of [Ph-PNP]-, [iPr-PNP]-, and
[Cy-PNP]- and the reactivity studies of these molecules with
respect to catalytic Kumada coupling reactions.
Synthesis and Characterization of Lithium Complexes.
Lithium amides are convenient starting materials for metathetical
reactions with metal halides. Addition of 1 equiv of n-BuLi to
H[R-PNP] in ethereal solutions at -35 °C produced the
Results and Discussion
Preparation of Ligand Precursors. The preparation of H[Ph-
PNP] has been reported independently by Kaska30 and us21 with
different synthetic approaches. With various substituents at the
phosphorus donors, the amido pincer ligands [R-PNP]- are
anticipated to exhibit distinct steric and electronic properties.
One elegant precedent in a related ligand system is the silyl-
derived [N(SiMe2CH2PR2)2]- (R ) aryl or alkyl) established
by Fryzuk and co-workers.31 Scheme 1 summarizes two
strategies for the preparation of the ligand precursors H[Ph-
PNP], H[iPr-PNP], and H[Cy-PNP]. Other similar compounds32-35
are now available since the preparation of H[Ph-PNP] was
reported. Both o-fluoro- and o-bromo-substituted biphenyl
amines were prepared quantitatively from the palladium-
catalyzed aryl amination reactions36,37 of either 2-fluoroaniline
with 2-bromofluorobenzene or 2-bromoaniline with 2-bromo-
iodobenzene. Subsequent reaction of di(2-fluorophenyl)amine
with potassium diphenylphosphide in refluxing 1,4-dioxane
produced H[Ph-PNP]. Sequential addition of n-BuLi and R2-
1
corresponding lithium complexes (Scheme 2). The H NMR
spectra of these lithium derivatives indicate the presence of
coordinated solvent molecules. Consistent with the anticipated
steric and electronic properties of substituents at the phosphorus
donors, the phenyl-substituted amido pincer complex adopts
more coordinated solvent molecules than the isopropyl and
cyclohexyl counterparts. While [iPr-PNP]Li(OEt2) and [Cy-PNP]-
Li(OEt2) are considerably stable under reduced pressure, the
coordinated ether molecule is notably labile and may be readily
1
replaced by THF, as indicated by H NMR spectroscopy.
Table 1 summarizes the selected NMR spectroscopic data.
The phosphorus donors in these lithium complexes appear as a
signal that is shifted relatively downfield as compared to that
of the corresponding ligand precursor. As illustrated in Figure
1, the internuclear coupling observed in the 31P{1H} and
7Li{1H} NMR spectra of the THF adducts is indicative of the
coordination of two chemically equivalent phosphorus donors
to the quadrupolar lithium-7 center (I ) 3/2, natural abundance
i
PCl (R ) Ph, Pr, Cy) to a diethyl ether solution of di(2-
1
92.6%).38 The coupling constant JPLi of 34 Hz for [Ph-PNP]-
bromophenyl)amine at -35 °C generated the corresponding
H[R-PNP] after anaerobic aqueous workup. These halogenated
and phosphanylated diaryl amines were all fully characterized
by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The
phosphine compounds were all isolated as colorless crystalline
solids.
Li(THF)2 is comparable to those found for lithium phosphine
complexes such as [Li(THF)2][o-(2,6-iPr2C6H3N)C6H4PPh2] (38
Hz)19 and [Li(THF)2][o-(2,6-Me2C6H3N)C6H4PPh2] (34 Hz)19
and the lithium phosphide derivatives [Li(tmeda)]2[1,2-C6H4-
(PPh)2] (35 Hz)39 and [Li(tmeda)]2[1,2-C6H4(PSiMe3)2] (38
Hz),39 whereas those of [iPr-PNP]Li(THF) (46 Hz) and [Cy-
PNP]Li(THF) (48 Hz) are somewhat larger but similar to that
of Li[N(2-PiPr2-4-Me-C6H3)2](THF) (48 Hz).40 These values,
however, are all notably smaller than that reported for Li[N(o-
C6H4PiBu2)2] (61 Hz), which does not incorporate any coordi-
(24) Albrecht, M.; van Koten, G. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2001, 40, 3750-
3781.
(25) Gossage, R. A.; Van De Kuil, L. A.; Van Koten, G. Acc. Chem.
Res. 1998, 31, 423-431.
(26) Peris, E.; Crabtree, R. H. Coord. Chem. ReV. 2004, 248, 2239-
2246.
nating solvent molecules.35 The increasing tendency of JPLi
1
(27) Slagt, M. Q.; van Zwieten, D. A. P.; Moerkerk, A.; Gebbink, R.;
van Koten, G. Coord. Chem. ReV. 2004, 248, 2275-2282.
(28) van der Boom, M. E.; Milstein, D. Chem. ReV. 2003, 103, 1759-
1792.
(29) Whitcombe, N. J.; Hii, K. K.; Gibson, S. E. Tetrahedron 2001, 57,
7449-7476.
(30) Winter, A. M.; Eichele, K.; Mack, H. G.; Potuznik, S.; Mayer, H.
A.; Kaska, W. C. J. Organomet. Chem. 2003, 682, 149-154.
(31) Fryzuk, M. D. Can. J. Chem. 1992, 70, 2839-2845.
(32) Fan, L.; Ozerov, O. V. Chem. Commun. 2005, 4450-4452.
(33) Weng, W.; Guo, C. Y.; Moura, C.; Yang, L.; Foxman, B. M.;
Ozerov, O. V. Organometallics 2005, 24, 3487-3499.
(34) Bailey, B. C.; Huffman, J. C.; Mindiola, D. J.; Weng, W.; Ozerov,
O. V. Organometallics 2005, 24, 1390-1393.
(35) Harkins, S. B.; Peters, J. C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 2030-
2031.
following the order [Ph-PNP]Li(THF)2, [iPr-PNP]Li(THF), and
[Cy-PNP]Li(THF) is perhaps a consequence of distinct elec-
tronic properties of the substituents at the phosphorus donors
or a result of different electrophilicity of the four- and five-
coordinate lithium center due to various amounts of coordinated
ethereal molecules.
An X-ray crystallographic study of [Cy-PNP]Li(OEt2) es-
tablished the solid-state structure of this molecule. The crystal-
(38) A broad signal rather than a multiplet resonance is observed in C6D6
at room temperature for the phosphorus donor and the lithium center of
[Ph-PNP]Li(THF)2 and [iPr-PNP]Li(THF).
(39) Hitchcock, P. B.; Lappert, M. F.; Leung, W.-P.; Yin, P. J. Chem.
Soc., Dalton Trans. 1995, 3925-3932.
(40) Weng, W.; Yang, L.; Foxman, B. M.; Ozerov, O. V. Organo-
metallics 2004, 23, 4700-4705.
(36) Wolfe, J. P.; Wagaw, S.; Marcoux, J. F.; Buchwald, S. L. Acc. Chem.
Res. 1998, 31, 805-818.
(37) Hartwig, J. F. Acc. Chem. Res. 1998, 31, 852-860.

Amido Pincer Complexes of Nickel(II)
Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006 1401
Table 1. Selected NMR Spectroscopic Dataa
compound
H[Ph-PNP]
δP
δLi
1JPLi
δHR
3JPHR
δCR
2JPCR
-18.62
-13.60
18.77
23.72
33.09
27.61
26.42
27.06
26.80
26.78
23.90
24.45
-13.31
-3.95
-5.07
34.68
35.47
32.07
32.50
-22.04
-12.20
-12.54
26.77
28.16
24.59
25.08
b
[Ph-PNP]Li(THF)2
[Ph-PNP]NiCl
[Ph-PNP]NiBr
[Ph-PNP]NiI
3.14
34.18
[Ph-PNP]NiMec
[Ph-PNP]NiEtc
0.13
1.07
1.07
1.22
1.12
-0.08
8.50
-15.37
-2.80
5.24
18.53
6.72
21.87
19.48
19.10
19.54
18.85
18.83
28.15
[Ph-PNP]Ni(n-Bu)c
[Ph-PNP]Ni(i-Bu)c
[Ph-PNP]Ni(n-hexyl)
[Ph-PNP]NiCH2SiMe3
[Ph-PNP]NiPhc
c
12.00
-12.97
151.00
H[iPr-PNP]
[iPr-PNP]Li(THF)b
[iPr-PNP]Li(OEt2)b
[iPr-PNP]NiCl
2.32
2.52
46.15
NAd
[iPr-PNP]NiMe
-0.31
0.84
0.76
9.0
-25.41
-14.97
-6.50
25.39
22.5
22.0
[iPr-PNP]NiEt
11.0e
[iPr-PNP]Ni(n-Bu)
H[Cy-PNP]
[Cy-PNP]Li(THF)b
[Cy-PNP]Li(OEt2)b
[Cy-PNP]NiCl
2.41
3.00
48.17
NAd
[Cy-PNP]NiMe
[Cy-PNP]NiEt
[Cy-PNP]Ni(n-Bu)
-0.13
1.03
9.0
-23.60
-13.24
-4.67
24.76
22.40
22.2
11.0e
NAf
NAf
a Unless otherwise noted, all spectra were recorded in C6D6 at room temperature, chemical shifts in ppm, coupling constants in Hz. b Spectra recorded in
toluene-d8. c Data selected from ref 21. d Not available; a broad singlet rather than a multiplet resonance was observed. e Obtained by selective decoupling
of â-hydrogen atoms. f Not available; the assignment was hampered due to overlap with cyclohexyl signals.
Figure 1. The 7Li{1H} NMR (194 MHz) spectra of (a) [Ph-PNP]Li(THF)2 (toluene-d8, 25 °C), (b) [Ph-PNP]Li(THF)2 (toluene-d8, 10 °C),
(c) [iPr-PNP]Li(THF) (toluene-d8, 25 °C), and (d) [Cy-PNP]Li(THF) (toluene-d8, 25 °C) and the 31P{1H} NMR (202 MHz) spectra of (e)
[Ph-PNP]Li(THF)2 (toluene-d8, 25 °C), (f) [Ph-PNP]Li(THF)2 (toluene-d8, 10 °C), (g) [iPr-PNP]Li(THF) (toluene-d8, 25 °C), and (h) [Cy-
PNP]Li(THF) (toluene-d8, 25 °C).
lographic data are summarized in Table 2. Consistent with the
solution structure determined by NMR spectroscopy, [Cy-PNP]-
Li(OEt2) is a four-coordinate species in the solid state (Figure
2). The geometry of the lithium center is best described as
distorted tetrahedral with angles ranging from 79.06(11)° to
139.30(13)° (Table 3). As a result, the dihedral angle between
two N-Li-P planes of 143.1° in [Cy-PNP]Li(OEt2) is notably
smaller than that of 174.6° found in the meridional, five-
coordinate [Ph-PNP]Li(THF)2.21 The Li-P bond distances of
[Cy-PNP]Li(OEt2) are slightly shorter than those of [Ph-PNP]-
Li(THF)2. The remaining parameters are unexceptional and
closely similar to those of Li[N(2-PiPr2-4-Me-C6H3)2](THF).40
Synthesis and Characterization of Nickel Complexes.
Addition of the amido pincer lithium complexes to NiCl2-

1402 Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006
Liang et al.
Table 2. Crystallographic Data for [Cy-PNP]Li(OEt2), [Ph-PNP]NiCl, [iPr-PNP]NiCl, [Ph-PNP]NiMe, [iPr-PNP]NiMe,
[Cy-PNP]NiMe, [Ph-PNP]Ni(n-Bu), [iPr-PNP]Ni(n-Bu), [Ph-PNP]NiCH2SiMe3, and [Ph-PNP]NiBr
{[Ph-PNP]NiCl}-
[Cy-PNP]Li(OEt2)
(C6H6)5
[iPr-PNP]NiCl
[Ph-PNP]NiMe
[iPr-PNP]NiMe
[Cy-PNP]NiMe
CCDC ref number
276347
C40H62LiNOP2
641.79
276348
276349
C24H36ClNNiP2
494.64
276350
C37H31NNiP2
610.28
276351
C25H39NNiP2
474.22
276352
C37H55NNiP2
634.47
formula
fw
C66H58ClNNiP2
1021.23
1.193
D
calc (g cm-3
)
1.124
1.325
1.365
1.256
1.212
cryst syst
space group
a (Å)
b (Å)
c (Å)
R (deg)
â (deg)
γ (deg)
V (Å3)
Z
triclinic
P1h
monoclinic
P21/n
18.004(3)
12.8101(18)
26.044(4)
90
108.826(2)
90
5685.3(14)
4
monoclinic
P21/c
12.26400(10)
9.9710(2)
20.3710(3)
90
95.6750(10)
90
2478.84(6)
4
orthorhombic
F2dd
9.8780(3)
18.3870(5)
32.6920(10)
90
90
90
5937.7(3)
8
monoclinic
P21/c
12.2610(3)
9.9350(2)
20.7080(7)
90
96.0020(10)
90
2508.68(12)
4
orthorhombic
Pnca
18.2850(5)
18.2850(5)
10.4020(5)
90
90
90
3477.8(2)
4
10.28900(10)
10.9240(2)
19.3070(3)
82.5160(10)
76.7630(10)
63.9670(10)
1896.98(5)
2
T (K)
200(2)
298(2)
100(2)
150(2)
200(2)
293(2)
diffractometer
radiation, λ (Å)
2θmax (deg)
Kappa CCD
Mo KR, 0.71073
50.10
21504
6680
0.0471
0.145
6680/0/407
SMART CCD
Mo KR, 0.71073
56.82
63 576
13 696
0.0704
0.484
13696/0/640
Kappa CCD
Mo KR, 0.71073
50.06
18 172
4338
0.0495
1.030
4338/0/258
Kappa CCD
Mo KR, 0.71073
50.00
5872
2325
0.0416
0.789
2325/1/187
Kappa CCD
Mo KR, 0.71073
50.02
15 441
4409
0.0776
0.912
4409/0/263
Kappa CCD
Mo KR, 0.71073
50.04
10 336
3004
0.0733
0.675
3004/0/188
total no. of reflns
no. of indep reflns
Rint
abs coeff (mm-1
no. of data/
restraints/
)
params
goodness of fit
final R indices
[I > 2σ(I)]
1.053
R1 ) 0.0456
1.018
R1 ) 0.0543
1.124
R1 ) 0.0324
1.090
R1 ) 0.0529
1.098
R1 ) 0.0583
0.978
R1 ) 0.0609
wR2 ) 0.1183
R1 ) 0.0574
wR2 ) 0.1338
wR2 ) 0.1261
R1 ) 0.1454
wR2 ) 0.1748
wR2 ) 0.0867
R1 ) 0.0368
wR2 ) 0.0956
wR2 ) 0.1429
R1 ) 0.0584
wR2 ) 0.1539
wR2 ) 0.1330
R1 ) 0.0957
wR2 ) 0.1581
wR2 ) 0.1518
R1 ) 0.1025
wR2 ) 0.1931
R indices (all data)
[Ph-PNP]NiCH2-
SiMe3
{[Ph-PNP]NiBr}-
[Ph-PNP]Ni(n-Bu)
[iPr-PNP]Ni(n-Bu)
(C6H6)2
CCDC ref number
276353
276354
276355
276356
formula
fw
D
C40H37NNiP2
652.401
1.290
C28H45NNiP2
516.30
1.199
C40H39NNiP2Si
682.503
1.269
C48H40BrNNiP2
831.37
1.379
calc (g cm-3
)
cryst syst
space group
a (Å)
b (Å)
c (Å)
R (deg)
â (deg)
γ (deg)
V (Å3)
Z
monoclinic
P21/a
17.1579(4)
9.4672(2)
22.0701(6)
90
110.4889(9)
90
3358.22(14)
4
monoclinic
P21/a
18.0840(3)
8.5850(2)
19.3230(4)
90
107.5760(10)
90
2859.87(10)
4
triclinic
P1h
monoclinic
C2/c
24.2880(7)
9.7320(3)
18.4090(7)
90
113.0520(10)
90
4003.9(2)
4
10.9794(2)
15.7917(4)
20.8066(4)
96.604(2)
94.5042(14)
90.5390(8)
3571.89(13)
4
T (K)
298(2)
200(2)
298(2)
293(2)
diffractometer
radiation, λ (Å)
2θmax (deg)
Kappa CCD
Mo KR, 0.71073
50.06
24 984
5870
Kappa CCD
Mo KR, 0.71073
50.06
29 443
5051
Kappa CCD
Mo KR, 0.71073
50.06
33 801
14 222
Kappa CCD
Mo KR, 0.71073
50.00
10 438
3497
total no. of reflns
no. of indep reflns
Rint
0.044
0.702
0.0779
0.806
0.070
0.69
0.0563
1.597
abs coeff (mm-1
)
no. of data/restraints/
params
5870/0/397
5051/0/290
6528/0/842
3497/0/242
goodness of fit
final R indices
[I > 2σ(I)]
0.997
R1 ) 0.0419
1.194
R1 ) 0.0532
2.962
R1 ) 0.067
1.214
R1 ) 0.0654
wR2 ) 0.1269
R1 ) 0.0617
wR2 ) 0.1418
wR2 ) 0.1235
R1 ) 0.0804
wR2 ) 0.1491
wR2 ) 0.162
R1 ) 0.150
wR2 ) 0.162
wR2 ) 0.1418
R1 ) 0.1015
wR2 ) 0.1803
R indices (all data)
(DME)41 suspended in THF at -35 °C resulted in slow
dissolution of NiCl2(DME) to give a homogeneous green
solution, from which diamagnetic [Ph-PNP]NiCl, [iPr-PNP]NiCl,
and [Cy-PNP]NiCl were isolated as emerald crystals in high
yield (Scheme 3). All three chloride complexes are air- and
water-stable in both solution and solid state. The 31P{1H} NMR
spectra of these chloride derivatives reveal a singlet resonance
that is shifted downfield from the corresponding ligand precur-
sors and lithium complexes. The 13C{1H} NMR spectra exhibit
virtual triplet42 resonances for the o-phenylene carbon
atoms, consistent with a square-planar geometry for these
molecules.
(41) Masotti, H.; Wallet, J. C.; Peiffer, G.; Petit, F.; Mortreux, A.; Buono,
G. J. Organomet. Chem. 1986, 308, 241-252.

Amido Pincer Complexes of Nickel(II)
Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006 1403
chloride ligand being trans to the amido nitrogen atom. The
two o-phenylene rings in these molecules are all tilted with
respect to the coordination plane due to the steric repulsion
between the two CH groups ortho to the amido nitrogen atom.
These structures are reminiscent of those of [Ph-PNP]PdCl44
and [Ph-PNP]PtCl.45 Consistent with the ionic sizes of divalent
group 10 metals, the P-M-P angle decreases on going from
[Ph-PNP]NiCl (171.72(4)°) to [Ph-PNP]PdCl (165.27(11)°) and
[Ph-PNP]PtCl (167.30(8)°).
Treatment of green [R-PNP]NiCl with a variety of Grignard
reagents produced a series of red, diamagnetic nickel alkyl and
aryl complexes in high isolated yield. Of particular interest is
the preparation of those containing â-hydrogen atoms, as
analogous compounds have not been reported for the closely
related [N(SiMe2CH2PR2)2]-,23 [o-(2,6-Me2C6H3N)C6H4PPh2]-,19
and [o-(2,6-iPr2C6H3N)C6H4PPh2]- systems.19,22 In general, the
metathetical reactions were completed in ca. 2 h to afford cleanly
Figure 2. Molecular structure of [Cy-PNP]Li(OEt2) with thermal
ellipsoids drawn at the 35% probability level.
1
the desired products as indicated by solution H and 31P{1H}
NMR spectroscopy. As anticipated, the HR and CR atoms in
these hydrocarbyl complexes are observed as a triplet resonance
in the 1H and 13C{1H} NMR spectra. Similar to those found in
[R-PNP]NiCl, the o-phenylene carbon atoms in [R-PNP]NiR′
appear as virtual triplet resonances, suggestive of a meridional
coordination mode for the amido pincer ligands in these square-
planar molecules.42
The solid-state structures of these hydrocarbyl complexes
were investigated by X-ray crystallography. Figures 4-6
illustrate the molecular structures of [R-PNP]NiMe (R ) Ph,
iPr, Cy), [R-PNP]Ni(n-Bu) (R ) Ph, iPr), and [Ph-PNP]NiCH2-
SiMe3, respectively. These structures resemble each other
closely. The nickel center in each molecule adopts a square-
planar geometry, a result that is in good agreement with that
concluded by solution NMR studies. Although the bond
distances and angles are all within the expected values, we note
that crystallographically characterized, mononuclear nickel
complexes of acyclic alkyls that contain â-hydrogen atoms are
extremely rare.46
Table 3. Comparison of Selected Bond Distances (Å) and
Angles (deg) for the Amido Phosphine Complexes of Lithium
a
compound
[Cy-PNP]Li(OEt2)
[Ph-PNP]Li(THF)2
Li-N
1.979(3)
2.578(3), 2.502(3)
1.979(3)
83.50(12), 79.06(11)
139.30(13)
109.17(15), 108.91(14)
2.039(5)
Li-P
2.779(5), 2.824(5)
1.955(5), 1.969(5)
73.35(15), 73.09(15)
146.01(18)
105.4(2), 95.26(18),
106.85(19), 94.92(18)
118.0(2), 139.7(3)
102.3(2)
Li-O
N-Li-P
P-Li-P
P-Li-O
N-Li-O
O-Li-O
136.04(19)
a Data selected from ref 21.
Emerald crystals of [Ph-PNP]NiCl suitable for X-ray dif-
fraction analyses were grown from a concentrated benzene
solution at room temperature, while those of [iPr-PNP]NiCl were
obtained from an ethereal solution at -35 °C. Figure 3 depicts
the solid-state structures of these chloride complexes. As
summarized in Tables 4 and 5, the bond distances and angles
involving nickel in these molecules are all similar to each other.
These parameters are all well within the expected values.19,23,43
As anticipated, the nickel center in these complexes lies perfectly
on the square plane defined by the four donor atoms with the
The thermal stability of these nickel complexes is remarkable.
These compounds are in general thermally stable at elevated
temperatures. Of particular note are the â-hydrogen-containing
alkyl derivatives. For instance, no decomposition was observed
when a benzene solution of [iPr-PNP]Ni(n-Bu) (6 mM) or [Cy-
Figure 3. Molecular structures of (a) [Ph-PNP]NiCl and (b) [iPr-PNP]NiCl with thermal ellipsoids drawn at the 35% probability level.
Scheme 3. Preparation of Nickel Complexes

1404 Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006
Table 4. Selected Bond Distances (Å) for the Amido Pincer Complexes of Nickel
Liang et al.
compound
Ni-N
Ni-Xa
Ni-P
[Ph-PNP]NiCl
[Ph-PNP]NiBr
1.895(3)
1.912(5)
1.967(8)
1.966(2)
1.966(5)
1.9030(17)
1.945(3)
1.953(3)
1.947(5)
2.1636(11)
2.2984(10)
1.967(11)
1.971(3)
1.944(7)
2.1834(6)
1.965(4)
1.963(3)
1.995(7)
2.1737(9), 2.1879(8)
2.1830(12), 2.1830(12)
2.1776(13), 2.1776(13)
2.1655(8), 2.1811(8)
2.191(2), 2.154(2)
2.1884(6), 2.1913(6)
2.1557(12), 2.1797(12)
2.1576(9), 2.1966(9)
2.1677(10), 2.1677(10)
[Ph-PNP]NiMe
[Ph-PNP]Ni(n-Bu)
[Ph-PNP]NiCH2SiMe3
[iPr-PNP]NiCl
b
[iPr-PNP]NiMe
[iPr-PNP]Ni(n-Bu)
[Cy-PNP]NiMe
a X represents a halide or R-carbon atom. b The data summarized represent one of the two independent molecules found in the asymmetric unit cell.
Table 5. Selected Bond Angles (deg) for the Amido Pincer Complexes of Nickel
compound
N-Ni-P
P-Ni-P
P-Ni-Xa
N-Ni-Xa
[Ph-PNP]NiCl
[Ph-PNP]NiBr
85.47(7), 86.27(7)
85.14(4), 85.14(4)
84.53(5), 84.53(5)
82.84(7), 84.99(7),
83.1(2), 84.5(2)
85.73(6), 84.92(5)
85.97(10), 84.18(10)
85.58(8), 84.99(8)
85.14(3), 85.14(3)
171.72(4)
170.28(7)
169.05(9)
163.76(3)
167.51(8)
168.81(2)
166.68(5)
168.83(4)
170.29(7)
93.18(4), 95.06(4),
94.86(4), 94.86(4)
95.47(5), 95.47(5)
96.45(11), 96.46(11)
99.7(2), 92.8(2)
93.99(2), 95.74(2)
93.81(14), 96.93(15)
92.86(11), 97.17(11)
94.86(3), 94.86(3)
177.88(8)
180.000(1)
180.0
175.76(12)
170.6(3)
176.24(6)
173.90(19)
173.55(13)
180.0
[Ph-PNP]NiMe
[Ph-PNP]Ni(n-Bu)
[Ph-PNP]NiCH2SiMe3
[iPr-PNP]NiCl
b
[iPr-PNP]NiMe
[iPr-PNP]Ni(n-Bu)
[Cy-PNP]NiMe
a X represents a halide or R-carbon atom. b The data summarized represent one of the two independent molecules found in the asymmetric unit cell.
Figure 4. Molecular structures of (a) [Ph-PNP]NiMe, (b) [iPr-PNP]NiMe, and (c) [Cy-PNP]NiMe with thermal ellipsoids drawn at the
35% probability level.
Figure 5. Molecular structures of (a) [Ph-PNP]Ni(n-Bu) and (b) [iPr-PNP]Ni(n-Bu) with thermal ellipsoids drawn at the 35% probability
level.
PNP]Ni(n-Bu) (12 mM) was heated to 80 °C for >3 days, as
indicated by 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy. Attempts to probe
whether reversible â-hydrogen elimination occurs at high
temperatures were not successful. Heating a benzene solution
of [iPr-PNP]Ni(n-Bu) (36 mM) or [Ph-PNP]Ni(n-Bu) (21 mM)
in the presence of an excess amount of 1-hexene at 100 °C for
1 day did not lead to formation of any new compounds, in
particular [iPr-PNP]Ni(n-hexyl) and [Ph-PNP]Ni(n-hexyl), re-
(42) Crabtree, R. H. The Organometallic Chemistry of the Transition
Metals, 4th ed.; Wiley-Interscience: Hoboken, 2005; pp 276-277.
(43) Peters, J. C.; Harkins, S. B.; Brown, S. D.; Day, M. W. Inorg. Chem.
2001, 40, 5083-5091.
(45) Liang, L.-C.; Lin, J.-M.; Lee, W.-Y. Chem. Commun. 2005, 2462-
2464.
(44) Huang, M.-H.; Liang, L.-C. Organometallics 2004, 23, 2813-2816.

Amido Pincer Complexes of Nickel(II)
Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006 1405
Figure 6. Molecular structure of [Ph-PNP]NiCH2SiMe3 with
thermal ellipsoids drawn at the 35% probability level. The asym-
metric unit cell contains two independent molecules; only one is
shown for clarity.
Figure 7. Molecular structure of [Ph-PNP]NiBr with thermal
ellipsoids drawn at the 35% probability level. The asymmetric unit
cell contains two benzene molecules, which are omitted for clarity.
Scheme 5. Interconversion between [R-PNP]NiX and
Scheme 4. Reactions of Nickel Hydrocarbyl Complexes
with Halogenated Hydrocarbons
[R-PNP]NiR′
NiCl with NaBr and NaI, respectively. Figure 7 depicts the
X-ray structure of [Ph-PNP]NiBr.
spectively, as evidenced by 1H NMR and 31P{1H} NMR spectra.
Interestingly, the insertion reaction of 1-hexene with [Ph-PNP]-
NiH, prepared in situ from the reaction of H[Ph-PNP] with Ni-
(COD)2 in benzene,47 occurs readily even at room temperature
to produce [Ph-PNP]Ni(n-hexyl) quantitatively. On the basis
of these results and the principle of microscopic reversibility
of â elimination and olefin insertion, we conclude that the â
elimination of [R-PNP]NiCH2CHR′R′′ species is uphill ther-
modynamically, at least for [Ph-PNP]- derivatives.
Reactivity Studies of Nickel Complexes. In general, no
reaction was observed for the hydrocarbyl complexes at room
temperature with a variety of protic or unsaturated molecules
such as water, benzyl alcohol, piperidine, acetone, acetophenone,
and trimethylsilylacetylene. These compounds, however, reacted
with halogenated hydrocarbons to give corresponding nickel
halide complexes (Scheme 4). For instance, the reaction of [Ph-
PNP]NiMe with 1 equiv of benzyl bromide in toluene at 100
°C produced tan crystals of [Ph-PNP]NiBr in high yield.
Analogous reactions with an excess amount of dichloromethane
or benzyl chloride afforded [Ph-PNP]NiCl quantitatively. Treat-
ment of [Ph-PNP]NiMe with chlorobenzene or bromobenzene
led to slow but clean formation of [Ph-PNP]NiX (X ) Cl, 16%
conversion; Br, 86% conversion), whereas the reaction of [Ph-
PNP]NiMe with iodobenzene proceeded much faster (100%
conversion) to generate a mixture of [Ph-PNP]NiI (80%) and
[Ph-PNP]NiPh (20%). We note that the relative reaction rates
of [Ph-PNP]NiMe with PhX are consistent with the anticipated
reactivity of the aryl halides. The identity of both [Ph-PNP]-
NiBr and [Ph-PNP]NiI was further confirmed by independent
preparation of these molecules from the reactions of [Ph-PNP]-
It is interesting to note that both [R-PNP]NiX and [R-PNP]-
NiR′ can be interconverted to each other in the presence of
Grignard reagents and halogenated hydrocarbons, respectively
(Scheme 5). Of particular note is the activation of the Csp3-X
and Csp2-X (X ) Cl, Br, I) bonds promoted by these nickel
hydrocarbyl complexes. It thus seems promising that the cross-
coupling reactions of Grignard reagents with halogenated
hydrocarbons, generally referred to as the Kumada reactions,48
can be catalyzed by these amido pincer complexes of nickel.
As summarized in Table 6, both aryl (entries 1-3) and alkyl
(entries 4-9) Griganrd reagents are successfully coupled with
phenyl halides in the presence of a catalytic amount of [R-PNP]-
NiCl. As anticipated, the catalysis is compatible with alkyl
nucleophiles bearing â-hydrogen atoms (entries 4-9), although
the reaction conversion and selectivity are relatively unsatisfied.
Nevertheless, the successful Kumada couplings of â-hydrogen-
containing alkyl groups described herein are remarkable, as
preceding examples are rare.7,9 The formation of the undesired
biphenyl product is suggestive of the presence of an [R-PNP]-
NiPh intermediate during catalysis, consistent with what we
observed in the reaction of [Ph-PNP]NiMe with iodobenzene
(vide supra). Although the mechanism is not clear at this stage,
the discrepancy for the formation of the undesired [R-PNP]NiPh
intermediate in the catalytic reactions involving alkyl rather than
aryl Grignard reagents is consistent with the relatively higher
inherent reactivity of Ni-alkyl than Ni-aryl with respect to phenyl
halides. Attempts to employ decyl halides as electrophiles for
Kumada reactions led to insignificant results (ca. 10% yield).
As the reactivity of [Ph-PNP]NiCl, [iPr-PNP]NiCl, and [Cy-
PNP]NiCl seems comparable to each other under the conditions
employed, it is likely that the rate-determining step in this
process is not aryl halide oxidative addition,49 which would lead
instead to a notably higher reactivity for cyclohexyl derivatives.
It is also possible that, however, the catalysis described herein
may not involve oxidative addition at all. A similar conclusion
(46) We note that only five examples are available from the Cambridge
Structural Database; see: (a) Cotton, F. A.; Frenz, B. A.; Hunter, D. L. J.
Am. Chem. Soc. 1974, 96, 4820-4825. (b) Hoberg, H.; Gotz, V.; Kruger,
C. J. Organomet. Chem. 1979, 169, 219-224. (c) Conroy-Lewis, F. M.;
Mole, L.; Redhouse, A. D.; Litster, S. A.; Spencer, J. L. Chem. Commun.
1991, 1601-1603. (d) Wiencko, H. L.; Kogut, E.; Warren, T. H. Inorg.
Chim. Acta 2003, 345, 199-208. (e) Kogut, E.; Zeller, A.; Warren, T. H.;
Strassner, T. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 11984-11994.
(48) Metal-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions; Diederich, F., Stang,
P. J., Ed.; Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, 1998.
(49) Portnoy, M.; Milstein, D. Organometallics 1993, 12, 1665-1673.
(47) Attempts to isolate [Ph-PNP]NiH by this route were not successful.
31P{1H} NMR for [Ph-PNP]NiH in C6D6: δ 33.

1406 Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006
Table 6. Catalytic Kumada Reactions of Grignard Reagents with Aryl Halidesa
Liang et al.
yield (%)b
entry
R
R′
X
solvent
temp (°C)
t (h)
conversion (%)b
A
B
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Ph
iPr
Cy
Ph
iPr
Cy
Ph
iPr
Cy
4-tolylc
4-tolylc
4-tolylc
Et
Et
Et
n-Bu
n-Bu
n-Bu
I
I
I
I
I
I
Br
Br
Br
toluene
toluene
toluene
THF
THF
THF
THF
THF
THF
25
25
25
60
60
60
60
60
60
12
39
39
12
12
12
12
12
12
92
85
55
89
55
42
97
57
47
100
100
100
59
60
33
44
46
56
0
0
0
41
40
67
56
54
44
a Reaction conditions: 1.0 equiv of aryl halide, 1.1 equiv of Grignard reagent, 2 mL of solvent. Reaction times have not been minimized. b Determined
by GC, based on aryl halides; average of two runs. c 4-Tolylmagnesium bromide was used.
X-ray Crystallography. Table 2 summarizes the crystallographic
data for all structurally characterized compounds. Crystals of [Ph-
PNP]NiMe suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis were grown from
a concentrated toluene solution at -35 °C, while those of
[Ph-PNP]Ni(n-Bu) and [Ph-PNP]NiCH2SiMe3 were grown by slow
evaporation of a concentrated benzene solution at room temperature.
Data were collected on a Bruker-Nonius Kappa CCD or a Bruker
AXS SMART APEX CCD diffractometer with graphite-mono-
chromated Mo KR radiation (λ ) 0.7107 Å). Structures were solved
by direct methods and refined by full matrix least squares
procedures against F2 using the maXus or WinGX crystallographic
software package. All full-weight non-hydrogen atoms were refined
anisotropically. Hydrogen atoms were placed in calculated positions.
has also been deduced for [Ph-PNP]PdCl-catalyzed Heck
olefination44 and {[o-(2,6-iPr2C6H3N)C6H4PPh2]PdCl}2- and
[o-(2,6-iPr2C6H3N)C6H4PPh2]PdCl(PCy3)-catalyzed Suzuki cou-
pling reactions.20
Conclusions
In summary, we have prepared a series of lithium and divalent
nickel complexes of amido pincer ligands [R-PNP]- (R ) Ph,
iPr, Cy) and established their structural characterization by
means of solution NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.
The coordination number and geometry of the lithium com-
pounds apparently depend on the characteristics of substituents
at the phosphorus donors of these pincer ligands. In contrast,
the nickel complexes consistently adopt a square planar
geometry. The isolation of nickel alkyl complexes that contain
â-hydrogen atoms is intriguing as compared to the closely
related [N(SiMe2CH2PR2)2]- system.23 Particularly remarkable
is the thermal stability of these â-hydrogen-containing alkyl
complexes at elevated temperatures. Consistent with the reactiv-
ity studies of the nickel halide and nickel alkyl complexes with
Grignard reagents and halogenated hydrocarbons, respectively,
the nickel halide complexes of [R-PNP]- are all active catalyst
precursors for Kumada coupling reactions.
Synthesis of Di(2-fluorophenyl)amine. A Schlenk flask was
charged with 2-fluoroaniline (5.55 g, 50 mmol), 1-bromo-2-
fluorobenzene (8.75 g, 50 mmol), Pd(OAc)2 (0.020 g, 0.089 mmol,
0.5% equiv), DPEPhos (0.216 g, 0.401 mmol, 0.75% equiv),
NaOtBu (7.185 g, 74.84 mmol, 1.4 equiv), and toluene (45 mL)
under nitrogen. The reaction mixture was heated to reflux with
stirring. The reaction was monitored by GC, which showed
complete formation of the desired product in 1 day. After being
cooled to room temperature, the reaction was quenched with
deionized water (45 mL). The organic portion was separated from
the aqueous layer, which was further extracted with toluene (10
mL × 2). The combined organic solution was dried over MgSO4
and filtered. All volatiles were removed in vacuo to yield a red oil,
which was directly used for the subsequent reaction; yield 9.38 g
(91.4%). 1H NMR (CDCl3, 500 MHz): δ 7.42 (m, 2, Ar), 7.25 (m,
2, Ar), 7.20 (m, 2, Ar), 7.04 (m, 2, Ar), 6.03 (br s, 1, NH). 19F
NMR (CDCl3, 470.5 MHz): δ -133.07. 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3,
125 MHz): δ 153.45 (t, JCF ) 241, CF), 130.45 (t, JCF ) 11.75,
CN), 124.14 (t, JCF ) 3.63, CH), 121.38 (t, JCF ) 7.25, CH), 117.98
(s, CH), 115.45 (t, JCF ) 19.00, CH). LR-MS (EI): calcd for
C12H9F2N m/z 205, found m/z 205. Anal. Calcd for C12H9F2N: C,
70.24; H, 4.42; N, 6.83. Found: C, 70.13; H, 4.52; N 6.69.
Experimental Section
General Procedures. Unless otherwise specified, all experiments
were performed under nitrogen using standard Schlenk or glovebox
techniques. All solvents were reagent grade or better and purified
by standard methods. The NMR spectra were recorded on Varian
instruments. Chemical shifts (δ) are listed as parts per million
downfield from tetramethylsilane and coupling constants (J) in
1
hertz. H NMR spectra are referenced using the residual solvent
peak at δ 7.16 for C6D6 and δ 2.09 for toluene-d8 (the most upfield
resonance). 13C NMR spectra are referenced using the residual
solvent peak at δ 128.39 for C6D6. The assignment of the carbon
atoms for all new compounds is based on the DEPT 13C NMR
Synthesis of Di(2-bromophenyl)amine. A Schlenk flask was
charged with 2-bromoaniline (5.26 g, 30.58 mmol), 1-bromo-2-
iodobenzene (8.65 g, 30.58 mmol), Pd(OAc)2 (0.034 g, 0.15 mmol,
0.5% equiv), DPEPhos (0.123 g, 0.23 mmol, 0.75% equiv),
NaOtBu (4.11 g, 42.81 mmol, 1.4 equiv), and toluene (20 mL) under
nitrogen. In the absence of light, the reaction mixture was heated
to reflux with stirring. The reaction was monitored by GC-MS,
which showed quantitative formation of the desired product in 15
h. After being cooled to room temperature, the reaction mixture
was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. The solid residue
was dissolved in deionized water (30 mL) and CH2Cl2 (60 mL).
The organic portion was separated from the aqueous layer, which
was further extracted with dichloromethane (40 mL × 2). The
combined organic solution was dried over MgSO4 and filtered. The
7
spectroscopy. 31P and Li NMR spectra are referenced externally
using 85% H3PO4 at δ 0, and LiCl in D2O at δ 0, respectively.
Routine coupling constants are not listed. All NMR spectra were
recorded at room temperature in specified solvents unless otherwise
noted. Elemental analysis was performed on a Heraeus CHN-O
Rapid analyzer.
Materials. Compounds NiCl2(DME),41 [Ph-PNP]Li(THF)2,21 and
[Ph-PNP]NiR′ (R′ ) Me, Et, n-Bu, i-Bu, CH2SiMe3, Ph)21 were
prepared according to the procedures reported previously. All other
chemicals were obtained from commercial vendors and used as
received.

Amido Pincer Complexes of Nickel(II)
Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006 1407
solvent was removed in vacuo to yield a dark brown oil, which
was subjected to flash column chromatography on neutral Al2O3
using Et2O as the eluant. The first band (pale yellow) was collected
and solvent was removed in vacuo, affording the product as pale
in degassed ethanol (1 mL) and cooled to -40 °C to give the
1
product as an off-white crystalline solid; yield 344 mg (55%). H
NMR (C6D6, 500 MHz): δ 8.48 (t, 1, JHP ) 8.3, NH), 7.41 (d, 2,
Ar), 7.26 (d, 2, Ar), 7.06 (t, 2, Ar), 6.82 (t, 2, Ar), 1.97 (m, 4,
CHMe2), 1.09 (dd, 12, CHMe2), 0.93 (dd, 12, CHMe2). 31P{1H}
NMR (Et2O, 80.95 MHz): δ -11.86. 31P{1H} NMR (THF, 80.95
MHz): δ -12.07. 31P{1H} NMR (toluene, 80.95 MHz): δ -13.07.
31P{1H} NMR (C6D6, 202.31 MHz): δ -13.31.13C{1H} NMR
(C6D6, 125.70 MHz): δ 149.55 (d, JCP ) 20.1, C), 134.14 (s, CH),
130.14 (s, CH), 123.79 (d, JCP ) 16.6, C), 120.74 (s, CH), 117.36
(s, CH), 23.73 (d, JCP ) 11.1, CHMe2), 20.70 (d, JCP ) 19.4,
CHMe2), 19.44 (d, JCP ) 9.2, CHMe2). Anal. Calcd for C24H37-
NP2: C, 71.79; H, 9.29; N, 3.49. Found: C, 71.50; H, 9.15; N,
3.56.
1
yellow oil; yield 9.21 g (92%). H NMR (CDCl3, 500 MHz): δ
7.59 (dd, 2, Ar), 7.30 (dd, 2, Ar), 7.22 (td, 2, Ar), 6.85 (td, 2, Ar),
6.48 (br s, 1, NH). 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 125.70 MHz): δ 139.87
(s, C), 133.13 (s, CH), 128.00 (s, CH), 122.44 (s, CH), 117.82 (s,
CH), 114.16 (s, C). HRMS (EI): Calcd for C12H9Br2N m/z
324.9102, found m/z 324.9101. Anal. Calcd for C12H9Br2N: C,
44.07; H, 2.77; N, 4.28. Found: C, 44.21; H, 2.80; N, 4.27.
Synthesis of Bis(2-diphenylphosphinophenyl)amine (H[Ph-
PNP]). Method 1. A 100 mL Schlenk flask equipped with a
condenser was flashed with nitrogen thoroughly. To this flask was
added KPPh2 (20 mL, 0.5 M in THF solution, 10 mmol). THF was
removed in vacuo, and a solution of di(2-fluorophenyl)amine (1.00
g, 4.88 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (8 mL) was added with a syringe.
The transparent, ruby reaction solution was heated to reflux with
stirring. The reaction condition was monitored by 31P{1H} NMR
spectroscopy, which revealed the completion of reaction in 2 days.
The resulting yellow solution was evaporated to dryness in vacuo.
The residue was treated with degassed deionized water (50 mL),
and the product was extracted with deoxygenated dichloromethane
(15 mL). The dichloromethane solution was separated from the
aqueous layer, from which the product was further extracted with
dichloromethane (15 mL × 3). The combined organic solution was
dried over MgSO4 and filtered. All volatiles were removed in vacuo
to yield the product as a pale yellow crystalline solid; yield 2.1 g
(80%). Method 2. n-BuLi (2.5 mL, 1.6 M in hexane, 4.0 mmol, 3
equiv) was added dropwise to a solution of di(2-bromophenyl)-
amine (440 mg, 1.35 mmol) in diethyl ether (15 mL) at -35 °C.
The reaction solution was naturally warmed to room temperature
and stirred for 1 h, providing a pale yellow solution along with a
significant amount of off-white precipitate. The reaction mixture
was cooled to -35 °C again, and chlorodiphenylphosphine (0.5
mL, 2.69 mmol, 2 equiv) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture
was stirred at room temperature for 18 h. The reaction was quenched
with 2-propanol (0.2 mL) and filtered through a pad of Celite, which
was further washed with diethyl ether (4 mL). The combined diethyl
ether solution was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure
to afford a pale yellow oil. The oil was dissolved in a mixture of
CH2Cl2 (2 mL) and pentane (5 mL) and cooled to -35 °C, affording
the product as an off-white solid; yield 450 mg (62%, 2 crops). 1H
NMR (CDCl3, 300 MHz): δ 7.10-7.23 (m, 24, Ar), 6.69-6.76
(m, 5, Ar and NH). 31P{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 121.5 MHz): δ -19.58.
31P{1H} NMR (C6D6, 121.5 MHz): δ -18.62. 31P{1H} NMR (Et2O,
121.5 MHz): δ -18.62. 13C{1H} NMR (CDCl3, 75 MHz): δ
146.51 (d, JCP ) 21.1), 135.78 (d, JCP ) 8.0), 134.14 (s), 133.72
(d, JCP ) 21.1), 129.64 (s), 128.53 (d, JCP ) 12.0), 128.46 (d, JCP
) 7.5), 126.34 (d, JCP ) 10.1), 121.51 (s), 118.16 (s). Anal. Calcd
for C36H29NP2: C, 80.43; H, 5.44; N, 2.61. Found: C, 80.04; H,
5.56; N, 2.69.
Synthesis of Bis(2-dicyclohexylphosphinophenyl)amine (H[Cy-
PNP]). n-BuLi (5.8 mL, 1.6 M in hexane, 9.3 mmol, 3 equiv) was
added dropwise to a solution of di(2-bromophenyl)amine (1.0 g,
3.1 mmol) in diethyl ether (30 mL) at -35 °C. The reaction solution
was naturally warmed to room temperature and stirred for 1 h,
providing a pale yellow solution along with a significant amount
of off-white precipitate. The reaction mixture was cooled to -35
°C again, and a diethyl ether solution (3 mL) of chlorodiisopro-
pylphosphine (933 mg, 6.1 mmol, 2 equiv) was added dropwise.
The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 16 h and
evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure to give an orange
viscous oil. Degassed deionized water (30 mL) and dichloromethane
(50 mL) were added. The dichloromethane portion was separated
from the aqueous solution, which was further extracted with
dichloromethane (20 mL × 2). The dichloromethane solutions were
combined, dried over MgSO4, and evaporated to dryness under
reduced pressure to afford a white cloudy oil. Pentane (5 mL) was
added. The solution was vigorously stirred at room temperature to
give the product as an off-white solid, which was isolated by
decantation of the solution and dried in vacuo; yield 1.32 g (77%).
1H NMR (C6D6, 500 MHz): δ 8.51 (t, 1, JHP ) 7.3, NH), 7.48
(dd, 2, Ar), 7.40 (d, 2, Ar), 7.09 (td, 2, Ar), 6.85 (td, 2, Ar), 2.00
(m, 8, Cy), 1.70 (t, 8, Cy), 1.60 (d, 4, Cy), 1.53 (d, 4, Cy), 1.36
(qt, 4, Cy), 1.23 (m, 8, Cy),1.15 (dt, 4, Cy), 1.07 (tt, 4, Cy). 31P-
{1H} NMR (THF, 80.95 MHz): δ -19.56. 31P{1H} NMR (toluene,
80.95 MHz): δ -20.86. 31P{1H} NMR (Et2O, 80.95 MHz): δ
-20.62. 31P{1H} NMR (C6D6, 202.31 MHz): δ -22.04 (∆V1/2
)
)
491 Hz). 13C{1H} NMR (C6D6, 125.70 MHz): δ 149.75 (d, JCP
19.2, C), 134.68 (s, CH), 130.13 (s, CH), 123.76 (d, JCP ) 16.2,
C), 120.78 (s, CH), 117.46 (s, CH), 33.96 (d, JCP ) 11.4, CH),
31.31 (d, JCP ) 17.4, CH2), 29.72 (d, JCP ) 8.2, CH2), 27.86 (d,
JCP ) 10.4, CH2), 27.67 (d, JCP ) 7.4, CH2), 27.10 (s, CH2). Anal.
Calcd for C36H53NP2: C, 76.97; H, 9.51; N, 2.49. Found: C, 77.43;
H, 9.69; N, 2.06.
Synthesis of [iPr-PNP]Li(THF). Solid H[iPr-PNP] (69 mg, 0.17
mmol) was dissolved in THF (3 mL) and cooled to -35 °C. To
this was added n-BuLi (0.11 mL, 1.6 M in hexane, 0.17 mmol)
dropwise. The reaction solution was stirred at room temperature
for 1 h and evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure to give
an orange-yellow oil. Pentane (2 mL) was added and evaporated
in vacuo, affording the product as a yellow oil; yield 80 mg (97%).
1H NMR (C6D6, 500 MHz): δ 7.53 (t, 2, Ar), 7.16 (td, 2, Ar),
7.11 (td, 2, Ar), 6.60 (t, 2, Ar), 3.40 (t, 4, OCH2CH2), 1.99 (m, 4,
CHMe2), 1.25 (t, 4, OCH2CH2), 1.12 (dd, 12, CHMe2), 1.05 (dd,
Synthesis of Bis(2-diisopropylphosphinophenyl)amine (H[iPr-
PNP]). n-BuLi (2.9 mL, 1.6 M in hexane, 4.68 mmol, 3 equiv)
was added dropwise to a solution of di(2-bromophenyl)amine (510
mg, 1.56 mmol) in diethyl ether (13 mL) at -35 °C. The reaction
solution was naturally warmed to room temperature and stirred for
1 h, providing a pale yellow solution along with a significant amount
of off-white precipitate. The reaction mixture was cooled to -35
°C again, and chlorodiisopropylphosphine (0.5 mL, 3.12 mmol, 2
equiv) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at
room temperature for 16 h. Degassed deionized water (10 mL) and
diethyl ether (10 mL) were added. The diethyl ether portion was
separated from the aqueous solution, which was further extracted
with diethyl ether (5 mL × 2). The diethyl ether solutions were
combined, dried over MgSO4, and evaporated to dryness under
reduced pressure to afford a yellow oil. The yellow oil was dissolved
1
12, CHMe2). H NMR (toluene-d8, 500 MHz): δ 7.51 (t, 2, Ar),
7.09 (m, 4, Ar), 6.57 (t, 2, Ar), 3.40 (t, 4, OCH2CH2), 1.97 (m, 4,
CHMe2), 1.27 (t, 4, OCH2CH2), 1.11 (dd, 12, CHMe2), 1.03 (dd,
12, CHMe2). 31P{1H} NMR (THF, 80.95 MHz): δ -7.95. 31P-
{1H} NMR (Et2O, 80.95 MHz): δ -4.66. 31P{1H} NMR (C6D6,
202.31 MHz): δ -4.43 (∆V1/2 ) 59 Hz). 31P{1H} NMR (toluene-
d8, 202.31 MHz): δ -3.95 (1:1:1:1 q, 1JLiP ) 46.15 Hz). 7Li{1H}
NMR (C6D6, 194.20 MHz): δ 2.48 (∆V1/2 ) 53 Hz). 7Li{1H} NMR
1
(toluene-d8, 194.20 MHz): δ 2.32 (t, JLiP ) 46.15 Hz). 13C{1H}

1408 Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006
Liang et al.
NMR (C6D6, 125.70 MHz): δ 163.71 (br s, C), 133.25 (s, CH),
130.85 (s, CH), 120.75 (br s, C), 117.51 (br s, CH), 114.46 (s,
CH), 68.61 (s, OCH2CH2), 25.73 (s, OCH2CH2), 23.26 (br s,
CHMe2), 20.66 (d, JCP ) 13.7, CHMe2), 20.10 (d, JCP ) 8.7,
CHMe2).
combined and evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. The
resulting oily residue was dissolved in pentane (1 mL) and cooled
to -35 °C to afford the product as a yellow solid; yield 570 mg
(79%, 2 crops). Method 2. n-BuLi (0.1 mL, 1.6 M in hexane, 0.16
mmol) was added dropwise to a solution of H[Cy-PNP] (90 mg,
0.16 mmol) in diethyl ether (3 mL) at -35 °C. The reaction solution
was stirred at room temperature for 10 min, evaporated to dryness
under reduced pressure, and triturated with pentane (2 mL) to afford
the product as a yellow solid; yield 96 mg (94%). Yellow crystals
suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis were grown by slow
Synthesis of [iPr-PNP]Li(OEt2). Solid H[iPr-PNP] (90 mg, 0.22
mmol) was dissolved in diethyl ether (3 mL) and cooled to -35
°C. To this was added n-BuLi (0.14 mL, 1.6 M in hexane, 0.22
mmol) dropwise. The reaction solution was naturally warmed to
room temperature with stirring for 10 min, evaporated to dryness
under reduced pressure, and triturated with pentane (2 mL) to afford
the product as a yellow oil; yield 100 mg (93%). 1H NMR (C6D6,
500 MHz): δ 7.61 (t, 2, Ar), 7.17 (m, 4, Ar), 6.65 (t, 2, Ar), 3.09
(q, 4, OCH2CH3), 1.99 (m, 4, CHMe2), 1.11 (dd, 12, CHMe2), 1.04
(dd, 12, CHMe2), 0.93 (t, 6, OCH2CH3). 1H NMR (toluene-d8, 500
MHz): δ 7.50 (dd, 2, Ar), 7.08 (m, 4, Ar), 6.57 (t, 2, Ar), 3.13 (q,
4, OCH2CH3), 1.95 (m, 4, CHMe2), 1.10 (dd, 12, CHMe2), 1.01
(dd, 12, CHMe2), 0.95 (t, 6, OCH2CH3). 31P{1H} NMR (C6D6,
202.31 MHz): δ -4.91 (∆1/2 ) 77 Hz). 31P{1H} NMR (diethyl
ether, 80.95 MHz): δ -5.03. 31P{1H} NMR (toluene-d8, 202.31
1
evaporation of a diethyl ether solution at room temperature. H
NMR (C6D6, 500 MHz): δ 7.62 (m, 2, Ar), 7.24 (m, 2, Ar), 7.17
(t, 2, Ar), 6.66 (t, 2, Ar), 3.17 (q, 4, OCH2CH3), 1.91 (m, 12, Cy),
1.70 (m, 8, Cy), 1.62 (d, 4, Cy), 1.36 (qt, 4, Cy), 1.24 (m, 12, Cy),
1
1.12 (q, 4, Cy), 1.02 (t, 6, OCH2CH3). H NMR (toluene-d8, 500
MHz): δ 7.46 (m, 2, Ar), 7.18 (m, 2, Ar), 7.10 (t, 2, Ar), 6.60 (t,
2, Ar), 3.18 (q, 4, OCH2CH3), 1.88 (m, 12, Cy), 1.66 (m, 12, Cy),
1.10-1.35 (m, 20, Cy), 0.98 (t, 6, OCH2CH3). 31P{1H} NMR
(diethyl ether, 80.95 MHz): δ -13.29. 31P{1H} NMR (C6D6, 202.31
MHz): δ -12.97 (br s, ∆V1/2 ) 127 Hz). 31P{1H} NMR (toluene-
d8, 202.31 MHz): δ -12.54 (br s, ∆V1/2 ) 90 Hz). 7Li{1H} NMR
(C6D6, 194.20 MHz): δ 2.90 (br s, ∆V1/2 ) 54 Hz). 7Li{1H} NMR
(toluene-d8, 194.20 MHz): δ 3.00 (br s, ∆V1/2 ) 49 Hz). 13C{1H}
NMR (C6D6, 125.70 MHz): δ 163.58 (m, C), 133.34 (s, CH),
130.85 (s, CH), 120.00 (br s, C), 117.48 (br s, CH), 114.62 (s,
CH), 66.70 (s, OCH2CH3), 33.57 (br s, PCH), 31.29 (d, JCP ) 11.94,
CH2), 30.43 (d, JCP ) 7.29, CH2), 28.12 (d, JCP ) 11.94, CH2),
28.03 (d, JCP ) 10.94, CH2), 27.29 (s, CH2), 15.16 (s, OCH2CH3).
Anal. Calcd for C40H62LiNOP2: C, 74.85; H, 9.74; N, 2.18.
Found: C, 73.03; H, 9.59; N, 2.10. Satisfactory analysis could not
be obtained due to moisture sensitivity of this compound.
7
MHz): δ -5.07 (∆1/2 ) 116 Hz). Li{1H} NMR (C6D6, 194.2
7
MHz): δ 2.79 (∆1/2 ) 40 Hz). Li{1H} NMR (toluene-d8, 194.2
MHz): δ 2.52 (∆1/2 ) 49 Hz). 13C{1H} NMR (C6D6, 125.70
MHz): δ 163.42 (d, JCP ) 19.23, C), 133.30 (d, JCP ) 1.89, CH),
131.02 (s, CH), 120.24 (d, JCP ) 1.06, C), 117.34 (br s, CH), 114.58
1
(s, CH), 66.71 (s, OCH2CH3), 23.12 (d, JCP ) 14.20, CHMe2),
2
2
20.66 (d, JCP ) 13.32, CHMe2), 20.17 (d, JCP ) 8.67, CHMe2),
14.91 (s, OCH2CH3).
Synthesis of [Cy-PNP]Li(THF). Solid H[Cy-PNP] (128 mg,
0.228 mmol) was dissolved in THF (3 mL) and cooled to -35 °C.
To this was added n-BuLi (0.14 mL, 1.6 M in hexane, 0.228 mmol)
dropwise. The reaction solution was stirred at room temperature
for 1 h and evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure to give
a bright yellow solid, which was triturated with pentane (2 mL),
Synthesis of [Ph-PNP]NiCl. Method 1. Solid NiCl2(DME)
(172.7 mg, 0.785 mmol) was suspended in THF (10 mL) and cooled
to -35 °C. A cold solution of [Ph-PNP]Li(THF)2 (540 mg, 0.785
mmol) in THF (10 mL) at -35 °C was added dropwise to the
suspension to result in gradual dissolution of solid NiCl2(DME),
and a homogeneous dark green solution formed. The reaction
mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 h. All volatiles were
removed in vacuo. The solid residue was extracted with CH2Cl2
(20 mL). The green CH2Cl2 solution was filtered through a pad of
Celite and evaporated to dryness, providing the product as a green
solid, yield 464 mg (93.6%). Method 2. A J. Young tube containing
a toluene solution (0.5 mL) of [Ph-PNP]NiMe (4 mg, 0.006 mmol)
and benzyl chloride (20 mg, 0.158 mmol, 26.3 equiv) was immersed
into an oil bath at 110 °C. The reaction was monitored by 31P{1H}
NMR spectroscopy, which indicated quantitative formation of [Ph-
PNP]NiCl in 43 h. Method 3. A J. Young tube containing a toluene
solution (0.5 mL) of [Ph-PNP]NiMe (1.0 mg, 0.002 mmol) and
CH2Cl2 (130 mg, 1.531 mmol, 765.5 equiv) was immersed into an
oil bath at 110 °C. The reaction was monitored by 31P{1H} NMR
spectroscopy, which indicated quantitative formation of [Ph-PNP]-
NiCl in 113 h. Method 4. A J. Young tube containing a toluene
solution (0.5 mL) of [Ph-PNP]NiMe (4 mg, 0.006 mmol) and PhCl
(17 mg, 0.151 mmol, 25.2 equiv) was immersed into an oil bath at
110 °C. The reaction was monitored by 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy,
which indicated the presence of [Ph-PNP]NiCl (16%) and [Ph-PNP]-
NiMe (84%) in 168 h. Crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction
analysis were grown by slow evaporation of a concentrated benzene
solution at room temperature. 1H NMR (C6D6, 500 MHz): δ 7.92-
7.95 (m, 8, Ar), 7.61 (d, 2, Ar), 6.96-7.04 (m, 14, Ar), 6.83 (t, 2,
Ar), 6.35 (t, 2, Ar). 31P{1H} NMR (C6D6, 202 MHz): δ 18.77.
31P{1H} NMR (THF, 121 MHz): δ 17.82. 13C{1H} NMR (C6D6,
125 MHz): δ 163.31 (t, JCP ) 14.43), 135.15 (s, CH), 134.38 (t,
1
affording the product as a yellow solid; yield 139 mg (95%). H
NMR (C6D6, 500 MHz): δ 7.63 (t, 2, Ar), 7.26 (t, 2, Ar), 7.18 (t,
2, Ar), 6.66 (t, 2, Ar), 3.42 (t, 4, OCH2CH2), 1.93 (m, 12, Cy),
1.69 (t, 8, Cy), 1.61 (d, 4, Cy), 1.39 (q, 4, Cy), 1.23 (m, 16, Cy
1
and OCH2CH2), 1.13 (t, 4, Cy). H NMR (toluene-d8, 500 MHz):
δ 7.53 (dd, 2, Ar), 7.21 (m, 2, Ar), 7.12 (t, 2, Ar), 6.60 (t, 2, Ar),
3.46 (t, 4, OCH2CH2), 1.90 (m, 12, Cy), 1.70 (t, 8, Cy), 1.61 (d, 4,
Cy), 1.35 (q, 4, Cy), 1.25 (m, 16, Cy and OCH2CH2), 1.13 (t, 4,
Cy). 31P{1H} NMR (THF, 80.95 MHz): δ -15.63. 31P{1H} NMR
(Et2O, 80.95 MHz): δ -12.81. 31P{1H} NMR (C6D6, 202.31
MHz): δ -12.12 (1:1:1:1 q, 1JPLi ) 46.13). 31P{1H} NMR (toluene-
1
7
d8, 202.31 MHz): δ -12.20 (1:1:1:1 q, JLiP ) 48.17). Li{1H}
NMR (C6D6, 194.20 MHz): δ 2.58 (t, 1JLiP ) 46.13). 7Li{1H} NMR
(toluene-d8, 194.20 MHz): δ 2.41 (t, 1JLiP ) 48.17). 13C{1H} NMR
(C6D6, 125.70 MHz): δ 163.42 (d, JCP ) 19.2, C), 133.18 (s, CH),
130.81 (s, CH), 120.15 (d, JCP ) 10.6, C), 117.12 (s, CH), 114.38
(s, CH), 68.75 (s, OCH2CH2), 33.39 (s, CH), 31.06 (d, JCP ) 11.8,
CH2), 30.35 (d, JCP ) 7.8, CH2), 28.14 (d, JCP ) 10.9, CH2), 28.03
(d, JCP ) 9.1, CH2), 27.32 (s, CH2), 25.71 (s, OCH2CH2). Anal.
Calcd for C40H60LiNOP2: C, 75.09; H, 9.45; N, 2.19. Found: C,
73.09; H, 9.22; N, 2.15. Satisfactory analysis could not be obtained
due to moisture sensitivity of this compound.
Synthesis of [Cy-PNP]Li(OEt2). Method 1. n-BuLi (2.13 mL,
1.6 M in hexane, 3.39 mmol, 3 equiv) was added dropwise to a
solution of di(2-bromophenyl)amine (370 mg, 1.13 mmol) in diethyl
ether (13 mL) at -35 °C. The reaction solution was naturally
warmed to room temperature and stirred for 1 h, providing a pale
yellow solution along with a significant amount of off-white
precipitate. The reaction mixture was cooled to -35 °C again, and
chlorodicyclohexylphosphine (0.5 mL, 2.26 mmol, 2 equiv) was
added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temper-
ature for 16 h and filtered through a pad of Celite, which was further
washed with diethyl ether (4 mL). The diethyl ether solution was
JCP ) 5.90, CH), 132.38 (s, CH), 130.95 (s, CH), 130.69 (t, JCP
)
23.97), 129.29 (t, JCP ) 4.89, CH), 123.65 (t, JCP ) 23.47), 118.51
(t, JCP ) 3.14, CH), 117.87 (t, JCP ) 5.90, CH). Anal. Calcd for

Amido Pincer Complexes of Nickel(II)
Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006 1409
C36H28ClNNiP2: C, 68.56; H, 4.47; N, 2.22. Found: C, 68.36; H,
4.57; N, 2.18.
was stirred at room temperature overnight. All volatiles were
removed in vacuo. The solid residue was triturated with pentane
(3 mL × 2) and extracted with toluene (6 mL). The toluene solution
was filtered through a pad of Celite and evaporated to dryness under
reduced pressure, affording the product as a green solid; yield 96
mg (93%). Emerald crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis
were grown from a concentrated THF/Et2O (ca. 1:9) solution at
Synthesis of [Ph-PNP]NiBr. Method 1. This experiment was
conducted under aerobic conditions. Solid NaBr (10.7 mg, 0.104
mmol, 2.6 equiv) was suspended in acetone (30 mL) and added to
a green solution of [Ph-PNP]NiCl (25 mg, 0.040 mmol) in acetone
(8 mL) at room temperature. After being stirred at room temperature
for 24 h, the reaction mixture was evaporated to dryness in vacuo.
The residue was extracted with CH2Cl2 (6 mL) and filtered through
a pad of Celite. Solvent was removed in vacuo to yield the product
as a tan solid; yield 26.6 mg (99%). Method 2. A toluene solution
(10 mL) containing [Ph-PNP]NiMe (100 mg, 0.164 mmol) and
benzyl bromide (0.02 mL, 0.164 mmol) was heated to 100 °C in
an oil bath for 2 days. All volatiles were removed in vacuo. The
tan solid residue was subject to recrystallization from benzene to
give the desired product as tan crystals; yield 79 mg (72%). Method
3. A J. Young tube containing a toluene solution (0.5 mL) of
[Ph-PNP]NiMe (4 mg, 0.006 mmol) and PhBr (14 mg, 0.089 mmol,
15 equiv) was immersed into an oil bath at 110 °C. The reaction
was monitored by 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy, which indicated
the presence of [Ph-PNP]NiBr (86%) and [Ph-PNP]NiMe (14%)
in 221 h. Crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis were grown
by slow evaporation of a concentrated benzene solution at room
1
-35 °C; yield 81 mg (84%). H NMR (C6D6, 500 MHz): δ 7.55
(d, 2, Ar), 6.97 (br s, 2, Ar), 6.88 (t, 2, Ar), 6.43 (t, 2, Ar), 2.21
(m, 4, CHMe2), 1.50 (dt, 12, CHMe2), 1.21 (dt, 12, CHMe2). 31P-
{1H} NMR (C6D6, 202.31 MHz): δ 34.68. 31P{1H} NMR (THF,
80.95 MHz): δ 35.17. 13C{1H} NMR (C6D6, 125.70 MHz): δ
164.45 (t, JCP ) 13.7, C), 132.53 (s, CH), 131.71 (s, CH), 121.17
(t, JCP ) 18.4, C), 117.29 (t, JCP ) 5.5, CH), 117.25 (t, JCP ) 2.6,
CH), 24.32 (t, JCP ) 11.9, CHMe2), 18.90 (s, CHMe2), 18.00 (s,
CHMe2). Anal. Calcd for C24H36ClNNiP2: C, 58.28; H, 7.34; N,
2.83. Found: C, 58.05; H, 7.35; N, 2.78.
Synthesis of [Cy-PNP]NiCl. Solid NiCl2(DME) (34 mg, 0.16
mmol) was suspended in THF (3 mL) and cooled to -35 °C. To
this was added dropwise a prechilled solution of [Cy-PNP]Li(THF)
(100 mg, 0.16 mmol) in THF (3 mL) at -35 °C. Upon addition,
the reaction solution became emerald in color. The reaction mixture
was stirred at room temperature for 7 h. All volatiles were removed
in vacuo. The solid residue was triturated with pentane (3 mL ×
2) and extracted with toluene (5 mL). The toluene solution was
filtered through a pad of Celite and evaporated to dryness under
reduced pressure, affording the product as a green solid; yield 860
mg (85%). 1H NMR (C6D6, 500 MHz): δ 7.62 (d, 2, Ar), 7.13 (m,
2, Ar), 6.91 (t, 2, Ar), 6.47 (t, 2, Ar), 2.61 (d, 4, Cy), 2.24 (m, 4,
Cy), 1.97 (m, 8, Cy), 1.86 (m, 4, Cy), 1.70 (m, 4, Cy), 1.62 (m, 4,
Cy), 1.51 (m, 4, Cy), 1.22 (m, 4, Cy), 1.10 (m, 8, Cy). 31P{1H}
NMR (C6D6, 202.31 MHz): δ 26.77. 31P{1H} NMR (THF, 80.95
MHz): δ 27.58. 13C{1H} NMR (C6D6, 125.70 MHz): δ 164.62 (t,
1
temperature. H NMR (C6D6, 499.767 MHz): δ 7.92 (m, 8, Ar),
7.62 (m, 2, Ar), 6.99 (m, 14, Ar), 6.84 (t, 2, Ar), 6.35 (t, 2, Ar).
31P{1H} NMR (C6D6, 202.31 MHz): δ 23.72. 31P{1H} NMR (CH3-
COCH3, 80.953 MHz): δ 24.31. 31P{1H} NMR (CH2Cl2, 80.95
MHz): δ 23.50. 31P{1H} NMR (toluene, 121.42 MHz): δ 23.46.
31P{1H} NMR (THF, 121.42 MHz): δ 23.18. 13C{1H} NMR (C6D6,
125.68 MHz): δ 163.14 (t, JCP ) 14.58 Hz, C), 135.25 (s, CH),
134.56 (t, JCP ) 5.9 Hz, CH), 132.41 (s, CH), 130.97 (s, CH),
130.89 (t, JCP ) 24.57 Hz, C), 129.23 (t, JCP ) 5.03 Hz, CH),
124.37 (t, JCP ) 23.19 Hz, C), 118.58 (s, CH), 117.71 (t, JCP
)
4.96 Hz, CH). Anal. Calcd for C36H28BrNNiP2: C, 64.04; H, 4.18;
N, 2.07. Found: C, 64.51; H, 4.33; N, 2.12.
JCP ) 13.7, C), 132.71 (s, CH), 131.60 (s, CH), 121.59 (t, JCP
)
19.4, C), 117.30 (t, JCP ) 5.5, CH), 117.29 (t, JCP ) 2.6, CH),
Synthesis of [Ph-PNP]NiI. Method 1. The experiment was
conducted under aerobic condition. At room temperature, an acetone
solution (8 mL) of NaI (62 mg, 0.41 mmol, 2.6 equiv) was added
to a green solution of [Ph-PNP]NiCl (100 mg, 0.159 mmol)
dissolved in acetone (20 mL). Upon addition, the reaction solution
became red in color and a considerable amount of a red solid
formed. After being stirred at room temperature for 16 h, the
reaction mixture was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure.
The solid residue was extracted with CH2Cl2 (10 mL) and filtered
to remove the remaining solid halides. Solvent was removed in
vacuo to yield the desired product as a brick-red solid; yield 102
mg (89%). Method 2. A J. Young tube containing a toluene solution
(0.5 mL) of [Ph-PNP]NiMe (4 mg, 0.006 mmol) and PhI (36 mg,
0.176 mmol, 29 equiv) was immersed into an oil bath at 110 °C.
The reaction was monitored by 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy, which
indicated the presence of [Ph-PNP]NiI (80%) and [Ph-PNP]NiPh
(20%) in 1 h. 1H NMR (C6D6, 500 MHz): δ 7.91 (m, 6, Ar), 7.64
(m, 2, Ar), 6.99 (m, 16, Ar), 6.86 (t, 2, Ar), 6.34 (t, 2, Ar). 31P-
{1H} NMR (C6D6, 202.31 MHz): δ 33.09. 31P{1H} NMR (THF,
80.95 MHz): δ 32.19. 31P{1H} NMR (CH2Cl2, 121.42 MHz): δ
32.37. 31P{1H} NMR (toluene, 80.95 MHz): δ 32.76. 13C{1H}
NMR (C6D6, 125.68 MHz): δ 162.79 (t, JCP ) 14.14 Hz, C), 135.38
(s, CH), 134.84 (s, CH), 132.44 (s, CH), 131.47 (t, JCP ) 25.01
Hz, C), 131.00 (s, CH), 129.12 (s, CH), 125.53 (t, JCP ) 22.69 Hz,
C), 118.67 (s, CH), 117.32 (s, CH). Anal. Calcd for C36H28-
INNiP2: C, 59.87; H, 3.91; N, 1.94. Found: C, 60.48; H, 4.29; N,
1.73.
33.81 (t, 1JCP ) 10.9, PCH), 29.02 (s, CH2), 28.42 (s, CH2), 27.72
2
2
(t, JCP ) 6.4, CH2), 27.57 (t, JCP ) 5.4, CH2), 26.75 (s, CH2).
Anal. Calcd for C36H52ClNNiP2: C, 66.02; H, 8.00; N, 2.14.
Found: C, 65.73; H, 8.14; N, 2.06.
Synthesis of [Ph-PNP]Ni(n-hexyl). Method 1. Solid [Ph-PNP]-
NiCl (50 mg, 0.08 mmol) was dissolved in toluene (3 mL) and
cooled to -35 °C. To this was added n-hexylmagnesium chloride
(0.04 mL, 2 M in diethyl ether, 0.08 mmol) dropwise. Upon
addition, the green solution became red in color. The reaction
mixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 min, and 1,4-dioxane
(0.02 mL, 0.22 mmol) was added. The solid thus precipitated was
removed by filtration through a pad of Celite from the reaction
solution, which was then evaporated to dryness under reduced
pressure and triturated with pentane (2 mL × 2) to afford the
product as a red solid; yield 53 mg (100%). Method 2. To a solid
mixture of H[Ph-PNP] (10 mg, 0.019 mmol) and Ni(COD)2 (5 mg,
0.019 mmol) was added 1-hexene (25 mg, 0.297 mmol, 16 equiv)
followed by benzene (1 mL) at room temperature. The reaction
solution was transferred to an NMR tube, and the reaction was
monitored by 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy, which showed quantita-
1
tive formation of [Ph-PNP]Ni(n-hexyl) in 1 day. H NMR (C6D6,
500 MHz): δ 7.780 (m, 10, Ar), 7.200 (m, 2, Ar), 7.039 (m, 12,
Ar), 6.965 (t, 2, Ar), 6.442 (t, 2, Ar), 1.116 (t, 2, CH2), 0.993-
1.097 (m, 4, CH2), 0.945 (m, 4, CH2), 0.753 (t, 3, CH3). 31P{1H}
NMR (toluene, 80.953 MHz): δ 26.533. 31P{1H} NMR (C6D6,
202.31 MHz): δ 26.782.13C{1H} NMR (C6D6, 125.70 MHz): δ
Synthesis of [iPr-PNP]NiCl. Solid NiCl2(DME) (45.6 mg, 0.21
mmol) was suspended in THF (3 mL) and cooled to -35 °C. To
this was added dropwise a prechilled solution of [iPr-PNP]Li(THF)
(100 mg, 0.21 mmol) in THF (3 mL) at -35 °C. Upon addition,
the reaction solution became emerald in color. The reaction mixture
163.576 (t, JCP ) 13.70, C), 135.444 (s, CH), 135.149 (t, JCP
)
6.03, CH), 133.840 (t, JCP ) 20.99, C), 133.297 (s, CH), 131.409
(s, CH), 130.148 (t, JCP ) 23.76, CH), 126.510 (t, JCP ) 22.88,
C), 118.017 (t, JCP ) 3.14, CH), 117.372 (t, JCP ) 5.03, CH), 36.155
(s, CH2), 33.275 (s, CH2), 32.003 (s, CH2), 24.246 (s, CH2), 15.743

1410 Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006
Liang et al.
2
(s, CH3), 6.718 (t, JCP ) 18.85, NiCH2). Anal. Calcd for C42H41-
(t, JCP ) 4.5, CH), 115.77 (t, JCP ) 3.6, CH), 35.14 (s, NiCH2-
1
NNiP2: C, 74.14; H, 6.07; N, 2.06. Found: C, 74.50; H, 6.04; N,
1.59.
(CH2)2CH3), 28.47 (s, NiCH2(CH2)2CH3), 24.11 (t, JCP ) 10.9,
2
CHMe2), 19.27 (t, JCP ) 2.8, CHMe2), 18.05 (s, CHMe2), 14.62
(s, NiCH2(CH2)2CH3), -6.50 (t, 2JCP ) 22.0, NiCH2). Anal. Calcd
for C28H45NNiP2: C, 65.14; H, 8.78; N, 2.71. Found: C, 64.95;
H, 8.76; N, 2.68.
Synthesis of [iPr-PNP]NiMe. Solid [iPr-PNP]NiCl (100 mg, 0.2
mmol) was dissolved in toluene (3 mL) and cooled to -35 °C. To
this was added MeMgCl (0.07 mL, 3 M in THF, 0.2 mmol)
dropwise. Upon addition, the green solution became brownish-red
in color. The reaction solution was naturally warmed to room
temperature with stirring for 1 h and evaporated to dryness under
reduced pressure. The solid residue was triturated with pentane (2
mL × 2), and the product was extracted with toluene (4 mL). The
toluene solution was filtered through a pad of Celite and evaporated
to dryness to afford the product as a red solid; yield 87 mg (91%).
Crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis were grown from a
concentrated toluene solution at -35 °C. 1H NMR (C6D6, 500
MHz): δ 7.77 (d, 2, Ar), 7.09 (m, 2, Ar), 7.01 (t, 2, Ar), 6.50 (t,
2, Ar), 2.12 (m, 4, CHMe2), 1.25 (dd, 12, CHMe2), 1.12 (dd, 12,
Synthesis of [Cy-PNP]NiMe. Solid [Cy-PNP]NiCl (39 mg, 0.06
mmol) was dissolved in toluene (3 mL) and cooled to -35 °C. To
this was added MeMgCl (0.02 mL, 3 M in THF, 0.06 mmol)
dropwise. Upon addition, the green solution became red in color.
The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 min,
evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure, and triturated with
pentane (2 mL × 2). The product was extracted with toluene (2
mL) and filtered through a pad of Celite. The toluene solution was
evaporated to dryness and triturated with pentane (2 mL × 2) to
afford the product as an orange solid; yield 36 mg (92%). Crystals
suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis were grown from a concen-
trated diethyl ether solution at -35 °C. 1H NMR (C6D6, 500
MHz): δ 7.84 (d, 2, Ar), 7.24 (m, 2, Ar), 7.04 (t, 2, Ar), 6.54 (t,
2, Ar), 2.33 (d, 4, Cy), 2.14 (m, 4, Cy), 1.84 (m, 4, Cy), 1.75 (m,
4, Cy), 1.64 (m, 12, Cy), 1.53 (m, 4, Cy), 1.20 (m, 4, Cy), 1.07
(qt, 8, Cy), -0.13 (t, 3, 3JHP ) 9, NiMe). 31P{1H} NMR (toluene,
80.95 MHz): δ 27.99. 31P{1H} NMR (C6D6, 202.31 MHz): δ
CHMe2), -0.31 (t, 3, JHP ) 9.0, NiMe). 31P{1H} NMR (toluene,
3
80.95 MHz): δ 35.31. 31P{1H} NMR (C6D6, 202.31 MHz): δ
35.47. 13C{1H} NMR (C6D6, 125.70 MHz): δ 163.94 (t, JCP
)
12.70, C), 132.45 (s, CH), 131.52 (s, CH), 122.24 (t, JCP ) 18.60,
C), 116.01 (t, JCP ) 4.90, CH), 115.84 (t, JCP ) 2.89, CH), 24.18
(t, JCP ) 11.69, CHMe2), 19.24 (t, JCP ) 2.45, CHMe2), 18.34 (s,
CHMe2), -25.41 (t, 2JCP ) 25.39, NiMe). Anal. Calcd for C25H39-
NNiP2: C, 63.32; H, 8.29; N, 2.95. Found: C, 62.79; H, 8.33; N,
2.87.
Synthesis of [iPr-PNP]NiEt. Solid [iPr-PNP]NiCl (59 mg, 0.12
mmol) was dissolved in toluene (3 mL) and cooled to -35 °C. To
this green solution was added EtMgCl (0.06 mL, 2 M in diethyl
ether, 0.12 mmol) dropwise. Upon naturally warming to room
temperature with stirring, the reaction solution gradually became
brownish-red in color in 15 min. 1,4-Dioxane (0.01 mL, 0.12 mmol)
was added. The solid thus precipitated was removed by filtration
through a pad of Celite. All volatiles were removed in vacuo, and
the solid residue was triturated with pentane (1 mL) to give the
product as a red powder; yield 45 mg (78%). 1H NMR (C6D6, 500
MHz): δ 7.71 (d, 2, Ar), 7.03 (m, 2, Ar), 6.99 (t, 2, Ar), 6.49 (t,
2, Ar), 2.17 (m, 4, CHMe2), 1.30 (dd, 12, CHMe2), 1.23 (t, 3, 3JHH
28.16.13C{1H} NMR (C6D6, 125.70 MHz): δ 164.08 (t, JCP
)
12.82, C), 132.62 (s, CH), 131.43 (s, CH), 122.65 (t, JCP ) 18.35,
C), 116.02 (t, JCP ) 5.02, CH), 115.89 (t, JCP ) 3.14, CH), 34.05
1
(t, JCP ) 6.53, CH), 29.69 (s, CH2), 28.79 (s, CH2), 27.96 (t, JCP
) 6.41, CH2), 27.71 (t, JCP ) 5.03, CH2), 26.95 (s, CH2), -23.60
(t, JCP ) 24.76, NiCH3). Anal. Calcd for C37H55NNiP2: C, 70.04;
H, 8.74; N, 2.21. Found: C, 70.48; H, 9.25; N, 1.78.
Synthesis of [Cy-PNP]NiEt. Solid [Cy-PNP]NiCl (100 mg, 0.15
mmol) was dissolved in toluene (3 mL) and cooled to -35 °C. To
this was added EtMgCl (0.08 mL, 2.0 M in diethyl ether, 0.16
mmol) dropwise. The green reaction solution became brownish-
red in color upon addition. The reaction mixture was stirred at room
temperature for 2 h and filtered through a pad of Celite, which
was further washed with toluene (2 mL) until the washings were
colorless. The toluene filtrate was evaporated to dryness under
reduced pressure. The solid residue was triturated with pentane (2
mL × 2) to afford the product as a brownish-red solid; yield 81
mg (82%). 1H NMR (C6D6, 500 MHz): δ 7.81 (d, 4, Ar), 7.20 (m,
2, Ar), 7.02 (t, 2, Ar), 6.53 (t, 2, Ar), 2.41 (d, 4, Cy), 2.20 (tt, 4,
Cy), 1.84 (m, 4, Cy), 1.67 (m, 18, Cy), 1.52 (d, 4, Cy), 1.41 (t, 3,
CH2CH3), 1.20 (qt, 4, Cy), 1.09 (m, 6, Cy), 1.03 (m, 2, 3JHP ) 11,
NiCH2). 31P{1H} NMR (C6D6, 202.31 MHz): δ 24.59. 31P{1H}
NMR (toluene, 80.95 MHz): δ 24.67. 13C{1H} NMR (C6D6, 125.70
MHz): δ 163.99 (t, JCP ) 12.3, C), 132.55 (s, CH), 131.40 (s,
CH), 122.29 (t, JCP ) 18.4, C), 116.02 (t, JCP ) 4.7, CH), 115.80
(t, JCP ) 3.1, CH), 34.01 (t, JCP ) 10.9, PCH), 29.67 (s, CH2),
28.41 (s, CH2), 28.10 (t, JCP ) 6.0, CH2), 27.72 (t, JCP ) 5.0, CH2),
26.87 (s, CH2), 17.10 (s, NiCH2CH3), -13.24 (t, JCP ) 22.4,
NiCH2). Anal. Calcd for C38H57NNiP2: C, 70.38; H, 8.86; N, 2.16.
Found: C, 69.95; H, 8.56; N, 1.94.
3
) 7.5, NiCH2CH3), 1.10 (dd, 12, CHMe2), 0.84 (tq, 2, JHP ) 11,
3JHH ) 7.5, NiCH2CH3). 31P{1H} NMR (C6D6, 202.31 MHz): δ
32.07. 31P{1H} NMR (toluene, 80.95 MHz): δ 32.00. 13C{1H}
NMR (C6D6, 125.5 MHz): δ 163.77 (t, JCP ) 12.3, C), 132.42 (s,
CH), 131.49 (s, CH), 121.84 (t, JCP ) 18.4, C), 115.96 (t, JCP
)
4.5, CH), 115.73 (t, JCP ) 2.8, CH), 24.01 (t, 1JCP ) 10.9, CHMe2),
2
3
19.25 (t, JCP ) 2.3, CHMe2), 18.04 (s, CHMe2), 17.01 (t, JCP
)
2.3, NiCH2CH3), -14.97 (t, 2JCP ) 22.5, NiCH2CH3). Anal. Calcd
for C26H41NNiP2: C, 63.96; H, 8.46; N, 2.87. Found: C, 63.94;
H, 8.66; N, 2.85.
Synthesis of [iPr-PNP]Ni(n-Bu). Solid [iPr-PNP]NiCl (59 mg,
0.12 mmol) was dissolved in toluene (3 mL) and cooled to -35
°C. To this green solution was added n-BuMgCl (0.06 mL, 2 M in
diethyl ether, 0.12 mmol) dropwise. Upon naturally warming to
room temperature with stirring, the reaction solution gradually
became brownish-red in color in 15 min. 1,4-Dioxane (0.01 mL,
0.12 mmol) was added. The solid thus precipitated was removed
by filtration through a pad of Celite. All volatiles were removed in
vacuo to give the product as a red powder; yield 59 mg (95%).
Red crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis were grown from
Synthesis of [Cy-PNP]Ni(n-Bu). Solid [Cy-PNP]NiCl (90 mg,
0.14 mmol) was dissolved in toluene (3 mL) and cooled to -35
°C. To this was added n-BuMgCl (0.07 mL, 2.0 M in diethyl ether,
0.14 mmol) dropwise. The green reaction solution became brown-
ish-red in color upon addition. The reaction mixture was stirred at
room temperature for 2 h and filtered through a pad of Celite, which
was further washed with toluene (2 mL) until the washings were
colorless. The toluene filtrate was evaporated to dryness under
reduced pressure. The solid residue was triturated with pentane (2
mL × 2) to afford the product as a brownish-red solid; yield 70
mg (75%). 1H NMR (C6D6, 500 MHz): δ 7.80 (d, 4, Ar), 7.21 (m,
2, Ar), 7.02 (t, 2, Ar), 6.53 (t, 2, Ar), 2.41 (d, 4, Cy), 2.20 (tt, 4,
Cy), 1.84 (m, 4), 1.66 (m, 18), 1.52 (d, 4), 1.22 (m, 4), 1.17 (t, 3,
CH3), 1.05 (m, 8), 0.92 (m, 4); the complete assignment for the
1
a concentrated pentane solution at -35 °C. H NMR (C6D6, 500
MHz): δ 7.71 (d, 2, Ar), 7.04 (m, 2, Ar), 6.99 (t, 2, Ar), 6.49 (t,
2, Ar), 2.19 (m, 4, CHMe2), 1.64 (m, 2, NiCH2(CH2)2CH3), 1.49
(m, 2, NiCH2(CH2)2CH3), 1.31 (dd, 12, CHMe2), 1.10 (dd, 12,
CHMe2), 1.08 (t, 3, NiCH2(CH2)2CH3), 0.76 (m, 2, NiCH2). 31P-
{1H} NMR (C6D6, 202.31 MHz): δ 32.50. 31P{1H} NMR (toluene,
80.95 MHz): δ 32.12. 31P{1H} NMR (pentane, 80.95 MHz): δ
31.82. 13C{1H} NMR (C6D6, 125.5 MHz): δ 163.79 (t, JCP ) 11.8,
C), 132.41 (s, CH), 131.50 (s, CH), 121.85 (t, JCP ) 18.4, C), 115.99

Amido Pincer Complexes of Nickel(II)
Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006 1411
upfield aliphatic signals was hampered due to the overlap of n-Bu
with cyclohexyl groups. 31P{1H} NMR (C6D6, 202.31 MHz): δ
25.08. 31P{1H} NMR (toluene, 80.953 MHz): δ 24.65. 13C{1H}
NMR (C6D6, 125.70 MHz): δ 163.96 (t, JCP ) 12.3, C), 132.54
(s, CH), 131.41 (s, CH), 122.38 (t, JCP ) 18.9, C), 116.01 (t, JCP
) 4.5, CH), 115.80 (t, JCP ) 3.1, CH), 35.01 (s, NiCH2(CH2)2-
CH3), 34.05 (t, JCP ) 10.4, PCH), 29.68 (s, CH2), 28.70 (s, NiCH2-
(CH2)2CH3), 28.42 (s, CH2), 28.12 (t, JCP ) 5.9, CH2), 27.73 (t,
JCP ) 4.5, CH2), 26.90 (s, CH2), 14.70 (s, NiCH2(CH2)2CH3), -4.67
(t, JCP ) 22.2, NiCH2). Anal. Calcd for C40H61NNiP2: C, 71.01;
H, 9.09; N, 2.07. Found: C, 71.66; H, 9.75; N, 1.54.
from the aqueous layer, dried over MgSO4, and subject to GC-MS
analysis.
Acknowledgment. We thank the National Science Council
of Taiwan for financial support (NSC 94-2113-M-110-004) of
this work and Prof. Michael Y. Chiang (NSYSU), Mr. Ting-
Shen Kuo (National Taiwan Normal University), and Mr. Yong-
Yi Song (NSYSU) for crystallographic assistance. Acknowl-
edgment is made to the National Center for High-performance
Computing (NCHC) for the access to chemical databases. We
also thank the reviewers for insightful comments.
General Procedures for the Kumada Reactions Outlined in
Table 6. A Schlenk flask was charged with aryl halide (1.0 equiv),
Grignard reagent (1.1 equiv), [R-PNP]NiCl (1.0 mg for each single
experiment), solvent (2 mL), and a magnetic stir bar. The flask
was capped with a glass stopper and stirred at room temperature
or heated in an oil bath at 60 °C with stirring for a specified period
of time. After being cooled to room temperature, the reaction
mixture was quenched with deionized water and the product was
extracted with diethyl ether. The diethyl ether solution was separated
Supporting Information Available: X-ray crystallographic data
in CIF format for [Cy-PNP]Li(OEt2), [Ph-PNP]NiCl, [iPr-PNP]NiCl,
[Ph-PNP]NiMe, [iPr-PNP]NiMe, [Cy-PNP]NiMe, [Ph-PNP]Ni-
(n-Bu), [iPr-PNP]Ni(n-Bu), [Ph-PNP]NiCH2SiMe3, and [Ph-PNP]-
NiBr. This material is available free of charge via the Internet at
http://pubs.acs.org.
OM050943A