THE CATALYSIS OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL REDUCTION OF ALKYL BROMIDES BY NICKEL COMPLEXES: THE FORMATION OF CARBON-CARBON BONDS

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-328X(00)82420-1

The square planar, macrocyclic nickel complex, N,N'-ethylenebis(salicylidene-iminato)nickel(II), is shown to be an effective catalyst for the electrochemical reduction of substituted alkyl bromides; this indirect cathodic reduction can lead to a good yield of dimeric products.The reduction of alkyl bromides in the presence of an activated olefin is shown to lead to mixtures of products compatible with radical addition to the double bond.The mechanism of the reaction of nickel(I) complexes with alkyl bromides is discussed in the light of these results.