Nickel-complex-catalyzed reactions selectivity control

Recent Developments in Theoretical Organometallic Chemistry. 15, I Redistribution Equilibria of Organometallic Compounds, 6, 171 Redistribution Reactions of Transition Metal Organometallic Complexes, 23, 9S Redistribution Reactions on Silicon Catalyzed by Transition Metal Complexes, 19, 213 Remarkable Features of (7] -Conjugated Diene) zirconocene and -hafnocene Complexes, 24, I Selectivity Control in Nickel-Catalyzed Olefln Oligomerization, 17, lOS Silyl. Germyl, and Stannyl Derivatives of Azenes. N H Part I. Derivatives of Diazene, N,H2, 23, 131... 

Dimerization, oligomerization, and similar reactions of olefins have been reported to be catalyzed by systems involving the majority of the Group VIII metals (3). The reasons for the particular interest in nickel-containing catalysts are their exceptionally high catalytic activity (catalytic reactions have been performed at temperatures as low as - 100°C), the diversity of catalytic reactions of obvious synthetic value, as well as the possibility to direct the course and control the selectivity of a catalytic reaction by tailoring the catalyst which are perhaps without parallel among transition metal complex catalysts. 

Beyond palladium, it has recently been shown that isoelectronic metal complexes based on nickel and platinum are active catalysts for diyne reductive cyclization. While the stoichiometric reaction of nickel(O) complexes with non-conjugated diynes represents a robust area of research,8 only one example of nickel-catalyzed diyne reductive cyclization, which involves the hydrosilylative cyclization of 1,7-diynes to afford 1,2-dialkylidenecyclohexanes appears in the literature.7 The reductive cyclization of unsubstituted 1,7-diyne 53a illustrates the ability of this catalyst system to deliver cyclic Z-vinylsilanes in good yield with excellent control of alkene geometry. Cationic platinum catalysts, generated in situ from (phen)Pt(Me)2 and B(C6F5)3, are also excellent catalysts for highly Z-selective reductive cyclization of 1,6-diynes, as demonstrated by the cyclization of 1,6-diyne 54a.72 The related platinum bis(imine) complex [PhN=C(Me)C(Me)N=Ph]2Pt(Me)2 also catalyzes diyne hydrosilylation-cyclization (Scheme 35).72a... 

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