Nickel complexes with olefins

The observed spectra of some duroquinone-nickel complexes with olefins have been correlated by means of semiquantitative molecular-orbital theory by Schrauzer and Thy ret (48). In the case of n complexes of polynuclear hydrocarbons, such as naphthalene and anthracene, although their spectra are recorded, no conclusions have been drawn with regard to structure nor has any theoretical work been reported. Similar remarks apply to complexes of nonalternant hydrocarbons such as azulene. Although innumerable complexes of olefins with various transition metals are known and admirably reviewed (84), no theoretical discussion of even a qualitative nature has been provided of their electronic spectra. A recent qualitative account of the electronic spectra of a series of cyclopentadienone, quinone, and thiophene dioxide complexes has been given by Schrauzer and Kratel (85). 

Some of these coupling reactions can be made catalytic if hydrogen is eliminated and combines with the anion, thus leaving the nickel complex in the zero-valent state. Allylation of alkynes or of strained olefins with allylic acetates and nickel complexes with phosphites has been achieved (example 38, Table III). 

Oxidation of carbon ligands with concomitant insertion has been observed in the reaction of methallyl nickel complexes with norbornene or strained olefins in general and oxygen (example 3, Table IX). 

With the addition of 1,3-butadiene, the initially yellow hydride solutions turn red with the formation of relatively stable l-Me-it-allyl-nickel complexes, and olefin isomerization activity stops. By measuring the rate of formation of the rc-allyl complexes in the presence of added P(OEt)3, it was possible to measure the rate constant for dissociation of L from HNiL4 and show that this is the rate-determining step (42). 

The nickel complex with /,f,f-cyclododecatriene is also trigonal it may be obtained by reaction of [Ni(C3H5)2] with butadiene first affording an allyl complex, which subsequently undergoes cyclization to form the olefin compound. 

REACTIONS OF NICKEL CARBONYL WITH OLEFINIC COMPOUNDS YIELDING ISOLABLE COMPLEXES... 

Nickel(O) forms a n-complex with three butadiene molecules at low temperature. This complex rearranges spontaneously at 0 °C to afford a bisallylic system, from which a large number of interesting olefins can be obtained. The scheme given below and the example of the synthesis of the odorous compound muscone (R. Baker, 1972, 1974 A.P. Kozikowski, 1976) indicate the variability of such rearrangements (P. Heimbach, 1970). Nowadays many rather complicated cycloolefins are synthesized on a large scale by such reactions and should be kept in mind as possible starting materials, e.g. after ozonolysis. 

Flowever, information concerning the characteristics of these systems under the conditions of a continuous process is still very limited. From a practical point of view, the concept of ionic liquid multiphasic catalysis can be applicable only if the resultant catalytic lifetimes and the elution losses of catalytic components into the organic or extractant layer containing products are within commercially acceptable ranges. To illustrate these points, two examples of applications mn on continuous pilot operation are described (i) biphasic dimerization of olefins catalyzed by nickel complexes in chloroaluminates, and (ii) biphasic alkylation of aromatic hydrocarbons with olefins and light olefin alkylation with isobutane, catalyzed by acidic chloroaluminates. 

A related study used the air- and moisture-stable ionic liquids [RMIM][PFg] (R = butyl-decyl) as solvents for the oligomerization of ethylene to higher a-olefins [49]. The reaction used the cationic nickel complex 2 (Figure 7.4-1) under biphasic conditions to give oligomers of up to nine repeat units, with better selectivity and reactivity than obtained in conventional solvents. Recycling of the catalyst/ionic liquid solution was possible with little change in selectivity, and only a small drop in activity was observed. 

Coordination-catalyzed ethylene oligomerization into n-a-olefins. The synthesis of homologous, even-numbered, linear a-olefins can also be performed by oligomerization of ethylene with the aid of homogeneous transition metal complex catalysts [26]. Such a soluble complex catalyst is formed by reaction of, say, a zero-valent nickel compound with a tertiary phosphine ligand. A typical Ni catalyst for the ethylene oligomerization is manufactured from cyclo-octadienyl nickel(O) and diphenylphosphinoacetic ester ... 

Nickel and palladium react with a number of olefins other than ethylene, to afford a wide range of binary complexes. With styrene (11), Ni atoms react at 77 K to form tris(styrene)Ni(0), a red-brown solid that decomposes at -20 °C. The ability of nickel atoms to coordinate three olefins with a bulky phenyl substituent illustrates that the steric and electronic effects (54,141) responsible for the stability of a tris (planar) coordination are not sufficiently great to preclude formation of a tris complex rather than a bis (olefin) species as the highest-stoichiometry complex. In contrast to the nickel-atom reaction, chromium atoms react (11) with styrene, to form both polystyrene and an intractable material in which chromium is bonded to polystyrene. It would be interesting to ascertain whether such a polymeric material might have any catal3dic activity, in view of the current interest in polymer-sup-ported catalysts (51). 

As was the case for the Ni (123) and Pd/C2H4 (140) systems, each of the binary olefin complexes isolated has associated with it a moderately intense, UV band, the bands for Pd complexes lying at higher energy than those of the nickel complexes in addition, for each olefin sys-... 

Macrolactones 77 and/or 78 can be prepared from the reductive cyclisation of ynals 76 in the presence of NHC-nickel complexes (Scheme 5.21) [21], This maaolactonisation occnrs with different selectivity depending on the ligands attached to the nickel. If carbenes snch as IMes or IPr are nsed, the exocyclic olefin 77 is preferentially obtained, however when phosphine ligands are nsed, the endocyclic adducts 78 are preferentially obtained. 

A few further general examples of zinc catalytic activity or reactivity include the following. Other zinc-containing systems include a zinc phenoxide/nickel(0) catalytic system that can be used to carry out the chemo- and regioselective cyclotrimerization of monoynes.934 Zinc homoenolates have been used as novel nucleophiles in acylation and addition reactions and shown to have general utility.935,936 Iron/zinc species have been used in the oxidation of hydrocarbons, and the selectivity and conditions examined.362 There are implications for the mechanism of metal-catalyzed iodosylbenzene reactions with olefins from the observation that zinc triflate and a dizinc complex catalyze these reactions.937... 

The following conclusions can be drawn (a) ir-Allylnickel compounds are probably not involved in the catalytic dimerization of cyclooctene, because the highest reaction rate occurs when only traces of these compounds can be detected further, the concentration of the new 7r-allyl-nickel compound (19) becomes significant only after the catalytic reaction has ceased, (b) The complex formed between the original 7r-allylnickel compound (11) and the Lewis acid is transformed immediately upon addition of cyclooctene to the catalytically active nickel complex or complexes. In contrast to 7r-allylnickel compounds, this species decomposes to give metallic nickel on treatment of the catalyst solution with ammonia, (c) The transformation of the catalytically active nickel complex to the more stable 7r-allylnickel complex occurs parallel with the catalytic dimerization reaction. This process is obviously of importance in stabilizing the catalyst system in the absence of reactive olefins. In... 

Linear oligomerization and telomerization of butadiene take place with nickel complexes in the presence of a proton source (7). In addition, cooligomerization of butadiene with functionalized olefins such as methacrylate is catalyzed by nickel complexes [Eq. (4)] (12, 13) ... 

Early attempts at an asymmetric hydroalumination utilized a chiral -butylsalicylidenime complexed to a nickel(n) complex 117.128 When racemic 3,7-dimethyl-1-octene 116 was treated with 0.2mol% of the nickel complex 117 and 0.3 equiv. of TIBA at 0°C, followed by hydrolysis, the alkene 118 with 1.2% ee was obtained. The unreacted olefin 119 was recovered and found to have an ee of 1.8% (Scheme 14). 

The patent literature contains several references to the use of sulfoxide complexes, usually generated in situ, as catalyst precursors in oligomerization and polymerization reactions. Thus, a system based upon bis(acrylonitrile)nickel(0> with added Me2SO or EtgSO is an effective cyclotrimerization catalyst for the conversion of butadiene to cyclo-1,5,-9-dodecatriene (44). A similar system based on titanium has also been reported (407). Nickel(II) sulfoxide complexes, again generated in situ, have been patented as catalyst precursors for the dimerization of pro-pene (151) and the higher olefins (152) in the presence of added alkyl aluminum compounds. 

Tetramethyl- or tetraphenyl- (cyclobutadiene)nickel dihalides undergo reductive ligand substitution with nitrogen donor ligands such as 2,2 -bipyridine or 1,4-diaza-1,3-dienes with the addition of sodium metal237. The 2,2/-bipyridyl ligand is readily displaced and reaction of this complex with a variety of olefins and alkynes leads to cycloaddition reactions with the cyclobutadiene ligand. 

As mentioned in Sections 3.1.6 and 4.1.3, cyclopropenes can also be suitable starting materials for the generation of carbene complexes. Cyclopropenone di-methylacetal [678] and 3-alkyl- or 3-aryl-disubstituted cyclopropenes [679] have been shown to react, upon catalysis by Ni(COD)2, with acceptor-substituted olefins to yield the products of formal, non-concerted vinylcarbene [2-1-1] cycloaddition (Table 3.6). It has been proposed that nucleophilic nickel carbene complexes are formed as intermediates. Similarly, bicyclo[1.1.0]butane also reacts with Ni(COD)2 to yield a nucleophilic homoallylcarbene nickel complex [680]. This intermediate is capable of cyclopropanating electron-poor alkenes (Table 3.6). 

As seen from Scheme 7.2, the epoxy-ring cleavage and nickel oxidation proceed simultaneously. The nickel-oxygen bond is formed. This results in the formation of the carbon-nickel biradical in which Ph-CH fragment can rotate freely. The cleavage of the (NiO)-C bond leads to the formation of a mixture of styrenes. At early reaction stages (30 min), cis and trans olefins are formed in 50 50 ratio. After a prolonged contact (30 h), when all possible transformations should be completed, the trans isomer becomes the main product and cis trans ratio becomes 5 95. Such enrichment of the mixture with the trans isomer follows from the formation of the di-P-(trimethylsilyl)styrene anion-radical and its isomerization. The styrene formed interacts with an excess of the nickel complex. 

In a variation of this method, a dimethylamine adduct can be used in the same way as the methanol adduct described previously [Eq. (20)]. Nickel(II) and palladium(II) complexes with allyl-substituted NHCs are accessible by this route. These compounds cannot be prepared by the cleavage of an electron-rich olefin vide infra) because of an amino Claisen rearrangement of the tetramino-substituted olefin. However, [(NHC)M(CO)4] (M = Cr or Mo) were accessible via cleavage of electron-rich olefins with [M(CO)6] as the precursors but for the very same NHC. ... 

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