Carmen Nicasio

Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain

"Low-coordinate Ni(0) complexes and applications in catalysis"

Low-coordinate, zero-valent, transition-metal complexes of group 10 (Ni, Pd and Pt) have attracted widespread attention for their capability to activate unreactive bonds via oxidative addition. On this basis, these species are postulated as intermediates in catalytic transformations that proceed through a M(0)/M(II) pathway, including cross-coupling and C-H activation reactions. Homoleptic and heteroleptic d¹⁰-ML₂ complexes of Pd and Pt bearing bulky phosphines, N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and isocyanide ligands are known. However, Ni(0) analogues are rare and known examples are largely restricted to compounds supported by large NHC ligands. This presentation will focus on the use of dialkylterphenyl phosphines as ancillary ligand to stabilize homoleptic MP₂ complexes of the nickel triad, with special emphasis in the reactivity of NiP₂ derivatives with unsaturated molecules and in their catalytic applications in reactions involving alkynes or fluoroarenes as reactants.