Ylide Nickel Complex Synthesis

Our first approach was to react a nickel(O) compound with two ylides, one of which was CO-stabihzed [Eq. (6)]. 

We found that the reaction of bis(cyclooctadiene)nickel(0) with the two ylides ben-zoyhnethylene-triphenylphosphorane and methylene-trimethylphosphorane in toluene yields a highly active homogeneous catalyst (la) without any co-catalyst -the ethylene turnover being approximately tenfold compared to 2 [10]. 

Complex formation takes place immediately when the methylene-trimethylphosphorane is added. A yellow sohd can be crystallized from the reaction solution in high yield, microanalysis of which shows a Ni/ylide A/ylide B complex with 1/1/1 stoichiometry. 

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