Oxidative Addition of Nitriles

The kinetics of the oxidative addition of nitriles to Ni(P—P)2 have been studied. The organocyano nickel(II) complexes presumably have a dinuclear structure with trans planar coordination for the nickel atom.270 Some of the [Ni(CN)(R)(PR3)2] compounds (R = alkyl, aryl) are unstable and therefore cannot be isolated in the solid state. Their decomposition in solution promotes the formation of alkanes, alkenes, diphenyl, etc.217... 

Several methods have typically been used to prepare cyanide complexes. - Representative examples of these processes are shown in Equations 3.51-3.53. As shown in Equations 3.51 and 3.52, the oxidative addition of HCN or cyanogen (NC-CN) to a transition metal forms hydridometal cyanide complexes or dicyano metal complexes. Although less common, the oxidative addition of nitriles has even been shown to form organometal cyanide complexes. " These reactions have been observed for Ni(0) species, as shown in Equation 3.53. 

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