Nickel(II) Benzimidazolin-2-ylidene Complexes with Thioether-Functionalized Side Chains as Catalysts for Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Coupling

Abstract

Four bis(benzimidazolin-2-ylidene) nickel(II) complexes featuring thioether moieties in the side chain have been synthesized by reactions of the respective benzimidazolium salts with nickel(II) acetate in molten tetrabutylammonium bromide as an ionic liquid. All complexes were obtained as inseparable mixtures of trans-syn and trans-anti rotamers, as evidenced by NMR spectroscopy. For one of the complexes, X-ray diffraction confirmed the square-planar coordination geometry. The catalytic activity of all complexes for Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling was examined. Under the optimized conditions, both aryl bromides and aryl chlorides were successfully coupled in the presence of triphenylphosphine as additive. Yields ranged from good to moderate for electron-deficient aryl halides, while electron-rich aryl halides were found to be unreactive.