Highly reactive σ-organonickel complexes in electrocatalytic processes

The electrochemical reduction of nickel complexes with 2,2′-bipyridine in the presence of ortho-substituted organic halides or white phosphorus yields the highly reactive σ-organonickel complexes. These complexes selectively react with organic halides forming cross-coupling products. The mechanism of these processes was investigated using the method of cyclic voltammetry and preparative electrolysis. The key intermediates of electrochemical functioning of white phosphorus in conditions of metallocomplex catalysis were detected.