Synthesis and catalytic activity of nickel(II) complexes of CNC pincer-type N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

Air- and moisture-stable nickel(II) complexes 2a-c of CNC pincer-type N-heterocyclic carbene ligands have been prepared from the corresponding imidazolium salts by carbene-transfer reaction of a silver-NHC complex with Ni(DME)Cl-2 (DME = dimethoxylethane). Pincer complexes 2a-c are characterized by mass and NMR spectroscopy. The structure of 2a is also identified by X-ray diffraction analysis. Pincer complex 2a has been shown to be active catalyst for the Suzuki coupling reactions. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.