Organometallic catalysts have played a pivotal role in bringing about numerous synthetically valuable organic transformations that are either otherwise not possible or inefficient. A majority of such catalytic systems are based on precious, sparse and toxic 4d and 5d metals. Catalysts containing earth-abundant, inexpensive and less hazardous 3d metals for organic transformations has been an emerging field in recent times. Particular emphasis has been on the versatile nature of the corresponding pincer–metal complexes, which offers great control of their reactivity via numerous variations. One of the first pincer-metal complexes to be synthesized four decades ago was based on nickel. Apart from some of the unprecedented work reported by van Koten in the years that followed, there was an unusual lull in the studies on pincer–nickel complexes. The last decade has however witnessed an exponential surge in research on pincer–nickel complexes in general and their catalytic applications in particular. Several powerful pincer-Ni catalytic systems have been designed that are capable of accomplishing a variety of reactions such as C–C coupling, oxidation, dehydrogenation, hydro- functionalization and carbon dioxide functionalization. The talk would dwell upon on the related chemistry carried out in our lab in utilizing pincer-nickel complexes based on bis(imino)pyridine ligands in accomplishing N-alkylation of amines, Guerbet-type C-alkylation of alcohols and cyanomethylation of aldehydes.

Pincer-nickel catalyzed alkylation reactions

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.