Ligand-Controlled Electron Structure of Catalytically Active Ni Complexes

We have performed a systematic study of the electron structure of a series of Ni(I) and Ni(II) iodo and methyl complexes with a variety of di- and tridentate nitrogen ligands to study the influence of these ligands in the structure of catalytically active complexes in cross-coupling reactions. Ni(II) compounds show the expected square-planar configuration typical of complexes of d8 metals, regardless of the kind of coordinating nitrogen atom (sp2 or sp3) found in ligands derived from either trialkylamines or pyridines. In contrast, Ni(I) complexes show different structures. Thus, the absence of orbitals capable of delocalizing the unpaired electron (such as in TMEDA and PMDTA derivatives) leads to nonplanar iodo or methyl tetracoordinate complexes. In contrast, the presence of ligands derived from pyridine allows delocalization of the unpaired electron on the ligand. This delocalization is especially effective for terpyridine species.