Fluoro aromatic imine nickel(0) complexes: Synthesis and structural studies

The reaction of [Ni(dippe)]2(μ-H)2 with a series of fluoroaromatic imines affords nickel(0) complexes of the type [(dippe)Ni(η2-C,N)–PhHCdouble bond; length as m-dashNR′Ph], dippe = 1,2-bis(diisopropylphosphine)ethane. Solution NMR experiments as well as X-ray diffraction studies confirmed the π-coordination of the ligand through the Cdouble bond; length as m-dashN moiety; the resulting complex found to adopt a distorted tetrahedral geometry around the nickel center. The compounds are thermally stable and decomposition is only observed after long periods of heating above 150 °C.