Ligand-metal cooperativity in quinonoid based nickel(ii) and cobalt(ii) complexes for catalytic hydrosilylative reduction of nitriles to amines: electron transfer and mechanistic insight

The sustainable production of privileged amines by the catalytic reduction of nitriles with an inexpensive silane polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) holds great promise to replace conventional synthetic routes that have limited applicability and involve the use of expensive metal catalysts. The use of late 3d-metal complexes provides an excellent platform for the rational design of inexpensive catalysts with exquisite control over their electronic and structural features through metal-ligand cooperativity. In this context, we have realistically designed two complexes based on nickel(ii) and cobalt(ii) with a redox-active imino-o-benzoquinonato ligand. The compounds were characterized by a suite of spectroscopic methods, cyclic voltammetry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both complexes showed excellent catalytic activity in transforming various organonitriles into the corresponding primary amines selectively using the inexpensive PMHS. The catalytic performance of the complexes was evaluated by various control experiments and spectroscopic studies with detailed computational calculations revealing the crucial role of the non-innocent imino-o-benzoquinonato ligand and metal(ii) ion cooperativity in controlling the reactivity and selectivity of the key metal-hydride intermediates in the course of catalytic reduction.

Automated summary

The sustainable production of privileged amines through the catalytic reduction of nitriles using an inexpensive silane polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) shows promise as a replacement for traditional synthetic routes that involve expensive metal catalysts. Nickel(ii) and cobalt(ii) complexes with a redox-active imino-o-benzoquinonato ligand were designed and characterized, showing excellent catalytic activity in transforming various organonitriles into corresponding primary amines selectively using PMHS. The important role of the non-innocent imino-o-benzoquinonato ligand and metal(ii) ion cooperativity in controlling the reactivity and selectivity of the metal-hydride intermediates during catalytic reduction was revealed through control experiments and computational calculations.