A series
of catalytic C–S coupling reactions utilizing well-defined
Ni(II) PNP pincer complexes as precatalysts are reported (PNP = anion
of 2,5-bis[(dialkyl/aryl-phosphino)methyl]pyrrole,
abbreviated as P2
RPyr). Coupling reactions employing
a variety of aryl iodides and thiols in the presence of base and DMF
proceed in good to excellent yield at 80 °C with low catalyst
loadings. Aryl bromides were found to result in substantially lower
yields, and aryl chlorides were found to be unreactive under the catalytic
conditions. In an effort to further understand the reactivity of the
nickel PNP precatalysts, complexes of Ni(II) containing amide, alkoxide,
hydroxide, thiolate, and hydrosulfide ligands have been prepared and
examined in stoichiometric reactions relevant to carbon-heteroatom
coupling. Full characterization of each nickel complex is provided,
including solid-state structures. The results of stoichiometric reactions
implicate a reduced Ni(I) species as the active catalyst, which forms
by reduction of the Ni(II) precatalyst in the presence of excess thiolate.
The facility in forming Ni(I) species is invoked to rationalize the
observed activity among different Ni PNP precatalysts.