Electrosynthesis of symmetrical ketones from organic halides and carbon dioxide catalysed by 2,2'-bipyridine-nickel complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(89)87056-1

The electrochemical reduction of 1 2,2'-bipyridine-nickel complex, in the presence of carbon dioxide in N-methylpyrrolidone or dimethylformamide as solvent gives the corresponding nickel(0) complex associated with two molecules of CO.Oxidative addition of an alkyl halide to this complex, followed by an internal CO shift and reductive elimination, leads to the formation of a symmetrical ketone in high yield along with nickel(II), whereas aryl or vinyl halides mainly give acyl derivatives.The nickel(0) species is electrochemically regenerated, thus giving rise to an efficient catalytic process.The possible mechanism of these reactions is discussed