Synthesis and structural characterization of Ni(II) complexes with the chiral CpH(PNMent) tripod ligand

Abstract

Treatment of NiCl2 with the tripod ligand (LMent,SC)-1H led to (LMent,SC)-[Cp(PNMent)NiCl] in which the potentially tridentate ligand coordinated to the metal center in a bidentate way via the cyclopentadienyl system and the phosphorus atom. In the presence of NH4PF6 [(LMent,SC)-[Cp(PNMent)NiCl] readily underwent Cl/PPh3 exchange to give (LMent,SC)-[Cp(PNMent)NiPPh3]PF6. Reaction of (LMent,SC)-[Cp(PNMent)NiCl] with 0.5 eq. of dppe afforded [{(LMent,SC)-[Cp(PNMent)Ni]}2dppe](PF6)2. (LMent,SC)-[Cp(PNMent)NiPPh3]PF6 and [{(LMent,SC)-[Cp(PNMent)Ni]}2dppe](PF6)2 were characterized by NMR and MS spectroscopy, and also by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The cyclopentadienyl ligand of (LMent,SC)-[Cp(PNMent)NiPPh3]PF6 shows a distortion intermediate between the ene-allyl and diene types, while the two cyclopentadienyl ligands of [{(LMent,SC)-[Cp(PNMent)Ni]}2dppe](PF6)2 have intermediate and diene distortions, respectively. According to the temperature dependent NMR spectra of (LMent,SC)-[Cp(PNMent)NiPPh3]PF6 and [{(LMent,SC)-[Cp(PNMent)Ni]}2dppe](PF6)2 two different conformations of the tether in the Cp(PNMent)Ni system could be frozen out at low temperatures.