Isomerization of 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile with (bis-diphenylphosphinoferrocene)nickel compounds: Catalytic and structural studies

The catalytic isomerization of 2-metyl-3-butenenitrile to 3-pentenenitrile was carried out by (dppf)Ni species (dppf = bis-diphenylphosphinoferrocene) in the absence and the presence of Lewis acids. Studies in solution reveal the intermediacy of Ni(II) allyl complexes. Addition of Lewis acids such as BEt3 allow the crystallization and full characterization of the latter by X-ray diffraction studies.