10.1002/jccs.201200386
The research focuses on the development of highly efficient nickel catalysts based on proline esters for the thia-Michael addition of thiophenols to α,β-enones. The purpose of this study was to create catalysts that could facilitate this C-S bond forming reaction under mild conditions with high yields, which is significant for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and natural products. The researchers synthesized two nickel complexes, Ni(BMPP)(CH3CN)2 (1) and Ni(BPPP)(CH3CN)2 (2), using N3O2 pentadentate ligands, BMPP and BPPP. The conclusions drawn from the study were that both complexes 1 and 2 were effective for the thia-Michael addition at ambient temperature, with catalyst 1 being particularly efficient, requiring only 0.5 mol% loading for the reaction. The chemicals used in the process included 4-methoxythiophenol, 2-cyclohexenone, BMPP, BPPP, Ni(CH3CN)62, NaBPh4, and various other reagents and solvents for synthesis and characterization.