Detailed kinetic studies of the reaction of a model Ni0 complex with a range of aryl electrophiles have been conducted. The reactions proceed via a fast ligand exchange pre-equilibrium, followed by oxidative addition to produce either [NiIX(dppf)] (and biaryl) or [NiII(Ar)X(dppf)]; the ortho substituent of the aryl halide determines selectivity between these possibilities. A reactivity scale is presented in which a range of substrates is quantitatively ranked in order of the rate at which they undergo oxidative addition. The rate of oxidative addition is loosely correlated to conversion in prototypical cross-coupling reactions. Substrates that lead to NiI products in kinetic experiments produce more homocoupling products under catalytic conditions.

•Discussion of the synthesis of late transition metal hydroxide complexes.•Exploration of their stoichiometric reactivity with various organic substrates and small molecules.•Discussion of their catalytic applications, and promise for the future.Transition metal hydroxides of the late transition metals are now relatively common, and play a special role in both the synthesis of new complexes and in important catalytic reactions. The basic nature of this ligand lends these complexes to transmetallation and deprotonation reactions, while small molecules such as CO2 can insert into the metal–oxygen bond. This review analyses and discusses the progress of this field over approximately the past decade.Download high-res image (90KB)Download full-size image

The synthesis and co-ordination chemistry of a new ‘bulky yet flexible’ N-heterocyclic carbene (“IPaul”) is reported. This carbene has spatially-defined steric impact; steric maps show that two quadrants are very bulky while the other two are quite open. The electronic properties of this carbene are very similar to those of other 1,3-diarylimidazol-2-ylidenes. Copper, silver, iridium, and nickel complexes of the new ligand have been prepared. In solution, the ligand adopts two different conformations, while X-ray crystallographic analyses of the transition metal complexes suggest that the syn-conformer is preferred in the solid state due to intermolecular interactions. The copper(I) chloride complex of this new ligand has been shown to be highly-active in the hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds, when compared to the analogous IPr, IMes, IPr* and IPr*OMe complexes.

Experimental studies of the ring-closing metathesis reaction of 1,8-nonadiene and the ROMP reaction of cycloheptene show that the rate of isomerisation is not correlated to the initiation rate of the pre-catalyst, and that the absence of phosphine leads to a greatly increased rate of isomerisation. A range of pre-catalysts and solvents were probed and it is proposed that the isomerisation is mediated by a ruthenium hydride complex; our results are consistent with the rate-determining formation of such a species, which might be trapped in situ by tricyclohexylphosphane.

Experimental studies of the ring-closing metathesis reaction of 1,8-nonadiene and the ROMP reaction of cycloheptene show that the rate of isomerisation is not correlated to the initiation rate of the pre-catalyst, and that the absence of phosphine leads to a greatly increased rate of isomerisation. A range of pre-catalysts and solvents were probed and it is proposed that the isomerisation is mediated by a ruthenium hydride complex; our results are consistent with the rate-determining formation of such a species, which might be trapped in situ by tricyclohexylphosphane.

The synthesis and co-ordination chemistry of a new ‘bulky yet flexible’ N-heterocyclic carbene (“IPaul”) is reported. This carbene has spatially-defined steric impact; steric maps show that two quadrants are very bulky while the other two are quite open. The electronic properties of this carbene are very similar to those of other 1,3-diarylimidazol-2-ylidenes. Copper, silver, iridium, and nickel complexes of the new ligand have been prepared. In solution, the ligand adopts two different conformations, while X-ray crystallographic analyses of the transition metal complexes suggest that the syn-conformer is preferred in the solid state due to intermolecular interactions. The copper(I) chloride complex of this new ligand has been shown to be highly-active in the hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds, when compared to the analogous IPr, IMes, IPr* and IPr*OMe complexes.