Reactions of nickelocene with phenyl- and methyllithium in the presence of bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene

Results of the reactions of nickelocene with phenyl- and methyllithium in the presence of bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene have been reported. It was found that in the reaction of nickelocene with phenyllithium and bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene three products were formed: di(cyclopentadienylnickel) complex with bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene (NiCp)2(μ–η2–η2-Me3SiCCSiMe3) (1); di(cyclopentadienylnickel) complex with phenyl(trimethylsilyl)acetylene (NiCp)2(μ–η2–η2-PhCCSiMe3) (2) and tetra(cyclopentadienylnickel) complex with 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,3-butadiyne (NiCp)4(μ,μ–η2–η2–η2–η2-Me3SiCCCCSiMe3) (3). Phenyl(trimethylsilyl)acetylene and 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,3-butadiyne were the products of coupling and cross-coupling of {CpNiPh} and {CpNiCCSiMe3} formed as intermediate products of the reactions. All products were characterized by spectroscopic methods and crystal and molecular structures of compounds 1 and 3 were determined by single crystal X-ray measurements.