Transfer hydrogenation of ketones catalyzed by a trinuclear Ni(II) complex of a Schiff base functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ligand

A new Schiff base-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ligand precursor 3-benzyl-1-[2-((2-hydroxy-benzylidene)-amino]-ethyl-3H-imidazol-1-ium bromide (3), and its trinuclear Ni(II) complex [LNiL-Ni-LNiL]center dot 2Br (4) where L = 2-[2-(3-benzylimidazol-1-yl) ethyliminomethyl]phenol, were synthesized via the solventless and free carbene routes respectively. Both compounds were characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction techniques. Single crystal XRD analysis of 4 showed that it is composed of a central square planar Ni(II) ion symmetrically linked to two distorted square planar Ni(II) ions via two bridging ligands. The central Ni(II) ion is only bound to the Schiff base moieties of the bridging ligands via the phenolate oxygen donor (O1) and imine nitrogen donor (N1) atoms in a trans [N<^>O<^>(Ni2+)<^>N<^>O] mode, whilst the carbene moieties of each bridging ligand and a tridentate L are coordinated in a distorted square planar C-NHC-(Ni2+)<^>N<^>O<^>C-NHC mode to stabilise each of the terminal Ni(II) ions. Complex 4 showed significant activity as a catalyst in the transfer hydrogenation of a range of aliphatic and aromatic ketones, at a catalyst concentration of 0.1 mol%. An excellent conversion up to 100% was achieved for aromatic ketones after 4 h.