Nickel complexes featuring primary amido-functionalized <i>N</i>-heterocyclic carbene ligands have been synthesized and characterized. The nickel complexes show moderate catalytic activity for the base-free transfer hydrogenation of ketones with secondary alcohols under aerobic conditions. Preliminary studies demonstrate that the nickel complexes catalyze the hydrogen-deuterium exchange reaction between alcohols and organic substrates with mildly acidic C-H bonds. These results suggest reaction mechanisms that involve metal-ligand cooperation in which the ligand serves as a proton shuttle. Ongoing work is directed toward evaluating the scope of these reactions and developing more active catalysts.

Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of nickel complexes of primary amido-functionalized <i>N</i>-heterocyclic carbene ligands

256th National Meeting (2018)

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Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of nickel complexes of primary amido-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ligands