The
nickel anions [(MeCN)Ni(CF<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>]<sup>1</sup><sup>–</sup> and [Ni(CF<sub>3</sub>)<sub>4</sub>]<sup>2</sup><sup>–</sup> were prepared by formal addition of three and
four equivalents of [AgCF<sub>3</sub>] to [(dme)NiBr<sub>2</sub>] in the
presence of supporting [PPh<sub>4</sub>] counter-ion. Detailed insights into the electronic
properties of these new compounds were obtained through the use of density
functional theory (DFT) calculations, spectroscopy-oriented configuration
interaction (SORCI) calculations, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and cyclic
voltammetry. The data collectively show
that trifluoromethyl complexes of nickel, even in the most common oxidation
state of nickel(II), are highly covalent systems whereby a hole is distributed
on the trifluoromethyl ligands and surprisingly rendering the metal to a
physically more reduced state. In the
cases of [(MeCN)Ni(CF<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>]<sup>1–</sup> and [Ni(CF<sub>3</sub>)<sub>4</sub>]<sup>2–</sup>,
these complexes are better described as physically d<sup>9</sup> metal
complexes. [(MeCN)Ni(CF<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>]<sup>1</sup><sup>–</sup> is electrophilic and reacts with other
nucleophiles like phenoxide to yield the unsupported [(PhO)Ni(CF<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>]<sup>2–</sup>
salt, revealing the broader potential of [(MeCN)Ni(CF<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>]<sup>1–</sup>
in the development of ligandless trifluoromethylations at nickel. Proof-in-principle experiments show that reaction
of [(MeCN)Ni(CF<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>]<sup>1– </sup>with an aryl iodonium
salt yields trifluoromethylated arene, presumably via a high valent,
unsupported, and formally organonickel(IV) intermediate. Evidence for the feasibility of such
intermediates is provided with the structurally characterized [Ni(CF<sub>3</sub>)<sub>4</sub>(SO<sub>4</sub>)][PPh<sub>4</sub>]<sub>2</sub>,
which was derived through the two electron oxidation of [Ni(CF<sub>3</sub>)<sub>4</sub>]<sup>2–</sup>.