A series of diamagnetic divalent nickel complexes supported by a tridentate amido diphosphine ligand [N(o-C6H4PR2)2]- ([R-PNP]-; R = Ph, i Pr, Cy) have been prepared and characterized. Deprotonation of H[Ph-PNP], H[ i Pr-PNP], and H[Cy-PNP] with n-BuLi in ethereal solutions at −35 °C produced the lithium complexes [Ph-PNP]Li(THF)2, [ i Pr-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, CH2SiMe3, Ph; R = i 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 β-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, [ i Pr-PNP]NiCl, and [Cy-PNP]NiCl are all active catalyst precursors for Kumada coupling reactions, including those of alkyls containing β-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, [ i Pr-PNP]NiCl, [ i Pr-PNP]NiMe, [ i Pr-PNP]Ni(n-Bu), and [Cy-PNP]NiMe are presented.

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The reactivity of a series of nickel(II) hydride, alkyl, and anilide complexes supported by amido diphosphine ligands, including symmetrical [N(o-C6H4PR2)2]− (R = Ph (1a), i Pr (1c), Cy (1d)) and unsymmetrical [N(o-C6H4PPh2)(o-C6H4P i Pr2)]− (1b), with carbon monoxide is described. Exposure of a benzene solution of [1a–d]NiH to carbon monoxide under ambient conditions leads to reductive elimination of diarylamine to give quantitatively zerovalent nickel dicarbonyl complexes [H·1a–d]Ni(CO)2 (2). Migratory insertion of CO into the Ni-R bonds of [1]NiR in benzene solutions affords Ni(II)-acyl derivatives [1]NiC(O)R (R = Me (3), Et (4), n-hexyl (5), 2-norbornyl (6)). Interestingly, further carbonylation of acyl 3a and 4a generates [RC(O)N(o-C6H4PPh2)2]Ni(CO)2 (R = Me (7a), Et (8a)) as a result of C–N bond-forming reductive elimination whereas no reaction occurs for 3b–c or 4b–c under similar conditions. Carbonylation of the anilide complexes [1]NiNHPh produces carbamoyl [1]Ni[C(O)NHPh] (9) as the final product irrespective of the identity of the phosphorus substituents. The decisive factors on the generation of these divergent carbonylation products are discussed.

A series of nickel(ii) complexes of the type [R-PNP]Ni(ER') ([R-PNP](-) = [N(o-C(6)H(4)PR(2))(2)](-); R = Ph, (i)Pr, Cy; E = NH, O, S; R' = Ph, (t)Bu) featuring unsupported, covalently bound pi-donor ligands have been prepared and characterized. The metathetical reactions of [R-PNP]NiCl (R = Ph, (i)Pr, Cy) with LiNHPh, NaOPh, or NaSPh, respectively, produced the corresponding anilide [R-PNP]Ni(NHPh), phenolate [R-PNP]Ni(OPh), and thiophenolate [R-PNP]Ni(SPh) derivatives. Treatment of [Ph-PNP]NiCl with either LiNH(t)Bu or NaO(t)Bu generated tert-butyl amide [Ph-PNP]Ni(NH(t)Bu) and tert-butoxide [Ph-PNP]Ni(O(t)Bu), respectively. In contrast, attempts to prepare analogous tert-butyl amide and tert-butoxide complexes of [(i)Pr-PNP](-) or [Cy-PNP](-) were not successful. Protonolysis studies of these nickel(ii)-heteroatom complexes revealed the basic reactivity of these pi-donor ligands. The basicity follows the order NH(t)Bu > O(t)Bu > NHPh > OPh > SPh. In addition to solution NMR spectroscopic data for all new compounds, X-ray structures of [(i)Pr-PNP]Ni(NHPh) and [(i)Pr-PNP]Ni(OPh) are presented.