Abstract
A nickel hydride complex, {2,6-(iPr2PO)2C6H3}NiH, has been shown to catalyze the coupling of RCHO and R′OH to yield RCO2R′ and RCH2OH, where the aldehyde also acts as a hydrogen acceptor and the alcohol also serves as the solvent. Functional groups tolerated by this catalytic system include CF3, NO2, Cl, Br, NHCOMe, and NMe2, whereas phenol-containing compounds are not viable substrates or solvents. The dehydrogenative coupling reaction can alternatively be catalyzed by an air-stable nickel chloride complex, {2,6-(iPr2PO)2C6H3}NiCl, in conjunction with NaOMe. Acids in unpurified aldehydes react with the hydride to form nickel carboxylate complexes, which are catalytically inactive. Water, if present in a significant quantity, decreases the catalytic efficiency by forming {2,6-(iPr2PO)2C6H3}NiOH, which causes catalyst degradation. On the other hand, in the presence of a drying agent, {2,6-(iPr2PO)2C6H3}NiOH generated in situ from {2,6-(iPr2PO)2C6H3}NiCl and NaOH can be converted to an alkoxide species, bec...
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