Exploring trifluoromethylation reactions at nickel: A structural and reactivity study

A variety of nickel(aryl)(CF3) complexes supported by a chelating bisphosphine were successfully prepared in order to investigate the possibility of reductive elimination of Ar-CF3. The first structural comparison of a Ni-CF3 complex with a Ni-CH3 complex is also presented. All of the new nickel(aryl)(CF3) complexes were thermally stable and did not produce Ar-CF3 under thermal conditions. Additives had very little effect on the reductive eliminations, although water was found to afford product in 22% yield.