Organometallics
Article
Calcd for 3 (C49H54N4Ni2): C 72.09, H 6.67, N 6.86. Found: C 71.63,
H 6.64, N 6.44.
Ni2(C6H6) complex 1 (10 mol %), heated at 80 °C in C6H6,
provided t-BuNCCPh2 in 65% yield (Figure 6b). Slow
addition of both reaction partners is critical for the catalytic
process to be viable. When catalyst 1 is treated with excess t-
BuNC, demetalation occurs to generate free i‑PrNDI and
Ni(CNt-Bu)4. Furthermore, exposure of 1 to excess Ph2CN2
leads to catalytic consumption of the diazoalkane reagent to
form azine dimers.
In conclusion, the naphthyridine−diimine (NDI) ligand
framework enabled the synthesis of a well-defined dinickel
bridging carbene complex. The complex [i‑PrNDI]Ni2(CPh2)
(3) adopts an unusual paramagnetic ground state as a result of
the presence of low-lying π orbitals associated with the redox-
active NDI ligand. Complex 3 engages in carbene transfer to t-
BuNC by a mechanism in which the isonitrile initially
coordinates to one Ni center, cleaving the Ni−Ni bond. The
Ni−Ni bond is restored upon release of the ketenimine
product. Together, these studies highlight a unique mechanism
for carbene transfer from dinuclear M2(μ-CR2) species that
involves the direct participation of both metals.
Complex 4. To a 20 mL vial containing a stir bar were added
complex 3 (49 mg, 0.060 mmol, 1.0 equiv), 18-crown-6 (16 mg, 0.060
mmol, 1.0 equiv), and THF (5 mL). KC8 (8 mg, 0.060 mmol, 1.0
equiv) was added with vigorous stirring. An immediate color change
from dark purple to dark green was observed. The reaction mixture
was stirred at ambient temperature for an additional 15 min and then
filtered through a glass fiber pad to remove black graphite. The dark-
green filtrate was quickly concentrated to a final volume of
approximately 2 mL. The solution was stored at −30 °C overnight
to yield dark-green crystals of complex 4. The solvent was decanted,
and the crystals were washed with Et2O (3 × 1 mL) and dried under
1
reduced pressure. Yield: 75 mg, 88%. H NMR (400 MHz, 298 K,
THF-d8): δ −64.1, −24.0, −19.7, −18.0, 0.7, 0.8, 2.5, 3.9, 5.6, 11.1,
12.6, 15.6. UV−vis (THF, nm {M−1 cm−1}): 540 {6000}, 665
{5000}, 860 {5000}. Anal. Calcd for 4·2THF (C77H110KN4Ni2O10):
C 65.67, H 7.87, N 3.98. Found: C 65.66, H 7.68, N 4.03. Note: when
crystalline 4 was redissolved in THF, rapid decomposition to form red
impurities was observed.
Complex 5. To a 20 mL vial containing a stir bar were added
complex 3 (49 mg, 0.060 mmol, 1.0 equiv) and THF (5 mL).
(Cp2Fe)PF6 (19.5 mg, 0.060 mmol, 1.0 equiv) dissolved in MeCN
(0.5 mL) was added dropwise. An immediate color change from dark
purple to brown was observed. The reaction mixture was stirred at
ambient temperature for 1 h and then concentrated to dryness under
reduced pressure. Pentane (3 mL) was added to the residue, and the
resulting suspension was stirred for 30 min. The pale-yellow solution
was decanted from the crude solid material. The brown solid was
dissolved in THF (8 mL) and filtered through a glass fiber pad.
Diffusion of Et2O vapor into the concentrated THF solution at
ambient temperature yielded dark-brown crystalline material. The
solvent was decanted, and the crystals were washed with Et2O (3 × 1
mL) and dried under reduced pressure. Yield: 55 mg, 91%. Single
crystals suitable for XRD were grown from a concentrated DME
EXPERIMENTAL SECTION
■
General Information. All of the manipulations were carried out
using standard Schlenk or glovebox techniques under an atmosphere
of N2. Solvents were dried and degassed by passage through a column
of activated alumina and sparging with Ar gas. Deuterated solvents
were purchased from Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc., degassed,
and stored over activated 3 Å molecular sieves prior to use. All of the
other reagents and starting materials were purchased from commercial
vendors and used without further purification unless otherwise noted.
Ph2CN2 was synthesized and purified by crystallization from cold
pentane.14 18-Crown-6 was dried according to reported procedures
solution stored at −30 °C overnight. EPR (77 K, 2-MeTHF): giso
=
prior to use.15 i‑PrNDI]Ni2(C6H6) (1) was prepared according to
[
2.01. UV−vis (THF, nm {M−1 cm−1}): 335 {28 000}, 470 {10 000}.
μeff = 2.0μB (Evans method, 298 K, THF-d8). Anal. Calcd for 5
(C102H112F12N10Ni4P2): C 61.17, H 5.64, N 6.99. Found: C 60.79, H
5.74, N 6.81.
previously reported procedures.5 Elemental analyses were performed
by Midwest Microlab (Indianapolis, IN).
Complex 2. To a 20 mL vial containing a stir bar were added
complex 1 (95 mg, 0.13 mmol, 1.0 equiv), THF (1 mL), and pentane
(10 mL). The mixture was stirred for 30 min to generate a red-brown
solution. To this stirring solution, Ph2CN2 (25 mg, 0.13 mmol, 1.0
equiv) dissolved in pentane (2 mL) was added dropwise. An
immediate color change to dark brown was observed. The stir bar was
removed, and the reaction mixture was stored at −30 °C overnight to
afford a microcrystalline solid. The mother liquor was decanted, and
the solid was washed with cold pentane (3 × 1 mL) and dried under
reduced pressure. Yield: 100 mg, 92%. Single crystals suitable for XRD
were obtained from a saturated pentane solution cooled at −30 °C
Complex 6. To a 20 mL vial containing a stir bar were added
complex 3 (82 mg, 0.10 mmol, 1.0 equiv) and THF (2 mL). t-BuNC
(11.4 μL, 0.10 mmol, 1.0 equiv) dissolved in hexane (1 mL) was
added dropwise with stirring. An immediate color change from dark
purple to dark brown was observed. The reaction mixture was
concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure. The dark-brown
solid was dissolved in hexane (5 mL) and stored at −30 °C overnight
to yield a dark-brown microcrystalline solid. The solvent was
decanted, and the crystals were washed with pentane (3 × 1 mL)
and dried under reduced pressure. Yield: 80 mg, 89%. Single crystals
suitable for XRD were grown from a concentrated Et2O solution
1
overnight. H NMR (400 MHz, 298 K, THF-d8): δ −73.6, −20.3,
1
−14.0, −13.8, −0.5, 2.9, 7.9, 12.4, 20.3, 22.1, 29.6, 63.9, 66.4, 76.1.
UV−vis (THF, nm {M−1 cm−1}): 358 {30 000}, 505 {9000}, 548
{sh}, 750 {8000}. μeff = 2.86μB (Evans method, 298 K, THF-d8).
Anal. Calcd for 2 (C49H54N6Ni2): C 69.70, H 6.45, N 9.95. Found: C
69.28, H 6.63, N 9.94.
stored at −30 °C for 24 h. H NMR (800 MHz, 298 K, THF-d8): δ
0.51 (s, 9H, −C(CH3)3), 0.70 (d, J = 8 Hz, 3H, −CH(CH3)2), 0.84
(d, J = 8 Hz, 3H, −CH(CH3)2), 1.09 (d, J = 8 Hz, 3H, −CH(CH3)2),
1.12 (d, J = 8 Hz, 3H, −CH(CH3)2), 1.14 (d, J = 8 Hz, 3H,
−CH(CH3)2), 1.32 (br s, 3H, −CH3), 1.34 (d, J = 8 Hz, 3H,
−CH(CH3)2), 1.40 (br s, 3H, −CH3), 1.45 (d, J = 8 Hz, 3H,
−CH(CH3)2), 1.57 (d, J = 8 Hz, 3H, −CH(CH3)2), 2.35 (sept, J = 8
Hz, 1H, −CH(CH3)2), 3.28 (sept, J = 8 Hz, 1H, −CH(CH3)2), 3.45
(sept, J = 8 Hz, 1H, −CH(CH3)2), 3.61 (sept, J = 8 Hz, 1H,
−CH(CH3)2), 4.82 (br s, 2H, Ar H), 5.77 (br s, 1H, Ar H), 6.00 (br s,
2H, Ar H), 6.08 (d, J = 8 Hz, 1H, Ar H), 6.31 (t, J = 8 Hz, 1H, Ar H),
6.54 (t, J = 8 Hz, 1H, Ar H), 6.57 (t, J = 8 Hz, 1H, Ar H), 6.79 (d, J =
8 Hz, 1H, Ar H), 6.83 (d, J = 8 Hz, 1H, Ar H), 6.94 (m, 2H, Ar H),
7.00 (m, 2H, Ar H), 7.09 (d, J = 8 Hz, 1H, Ar H), 7.23 (m, 1H, Ar
H), 7.28 (t, J = 8 Hz, 2H, Ar H), 8.11 (d, J = 8 Hz, 2H, Ar H). 13C
NMR (200 MHz, 298 K, THF-d8): δ 15.3, 23.4, 24.0, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3,
24.4, 28.2, 28.3, 28.5, 28.7, 56.6, 91.5, 122.3, 122.6, 123.1, 123.3,
123.5, 124.8, 125.0, 125.4, 126.2, 127.9, 128.1, 129.1, 129.4, 130.2,
135.4, 140.6, 148.4. UV−vis (THF, nm {M−1 cm−1}): 333 {21 000},
Complex 3. To a 50 mL Schlenk flask containing a stir bar were
added complex 2 (100 mg, 0.12 mmol) and THF (20 mL). The
reaction mixture was stirred at 60 °C for 12 h, during which time the
color of the solution turned from dark brown to dark purple. The
volatiles were removed under reduced pressure to afford a dark-purple
sticky solid. Hexane (5 mL) was added to the residue, and the mixture
was scraped with a spatula to obtain a uniform suspension. The
volatiles were removed under reduced pressure to afford complex 3.
Yield: 95 mg, 98%. Single crystals suitable for XRD were obtained
1
from a saturated pentane solution cooled at −30 °C overnight. H
NMR (500 MHz, 298 K, THF-d8): δ −45.5 (2H), −40.1 (4H), −3.0
(2H), 2.4 (12H), 2.5 (12H), 10.5 (4H), 20.5 (4H), 24.9 (4H), 37.4
(6H), 54.8 (2H). UV−vis (THF, nm {M−1 cm−1}): 350 {30 000},
542 {9000}. μeff = 2.82μB (Evans method, 298 K, THF-d8). Anal.
D
Organometallics XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX