Structural elucidation of a nickel boryl complex. A recyclable borylation Ni(ii) reagent of bromobenzene

Abstract

The first nickel complex bearing a boryl moiety, (PNP)Ni[B(catechol)](PNP = N[2-P(CHMe(2))(2)-4-methylphenyl](2)(-)), has been prepared, structurally characterized, and analyzed by DFT; this rare species is shown to be a recyclable reagent for the borylation of bromobenzene, via an unusual cycle, by applying the ingredients catecholborane and NaBH(4).