Selective Transformation of Nickel‐Bound Formate to CO or C−C Coupling Products Triggered by Deprotonation and Steered by Alkali‐Metal Ions

Abstract

AbstractThe complexes [LtBuNi(OCO‐κ2O,C)]M3[N(SiMe3)2]2 (M=Li, Na, K), synthesized by deprotonation of a nickel formate complex [LtBuNiOOCH] with the corresponding amides M[N(SiMe3)2], feature a NiII−CO22− core surrounded by Lewis‐acidic cations (M+) and the influence of the latter on the behavior and reactivity was studied. The results point to a decrease of CO2 activation within the series Li, Na, and K, which is also reflected in the reactivity with Me3SiOTf leading to the liberation of CO and formation of a Ni−OSiMe3 complex. Furthermore, in case of K+, the {[K3[N(SiMe3)2]2}+ shell around the Ni−CO22− entity was shown to have a large impact on its stabilization and behavior. If the number of K[N(SiMe3)2] equivalents used in the reaction with [LtBuNiOOCH] is decreased from 3 to 0.5, the deprotonated part of the precursor enters a complex reaction sequence with formation of [LtBuNiI(μ‐OOCH)NiILtBu]K and [LtBuNi(C2O4)NiLtBu]. The same reaction at higher concentrations additionally led to the formation of a unique hexanuclear NiII complex containing both oxalate and mesoxalate ([O2C‐CO2‐CO2]4−) ligands.