Transformation of Formazanate at Nickel(II) Centers to Give a Singly Reduced Nickel Complex with Azoiminate Radical Ligands and Its Reactivity toward Dioxygen

Abstract

The heteroleptic (formazanato)nickel bromide complex LNi(μ-Br)2NiL [LH = Mes-NH-N═C(p-tol)-N═N-Mes] has been prepared by deprotonation of LH with NaH followed by reaction with NiBr2(dme). Treatment of this complex with KC8 led to transformation of the formazanate into azoiminate ligands via N–N bond cleavage and the simultaneous release of aniline. At the same time, the potentially resulting intermediate complex L′2Ni [L′ = HN═C(p-tol)-N═N-Mes] was reduced by one additional electron, which is delocalized across the π system and the metal center. The resulting reduced complex [L′2Ni]K(18-c-6) has a S = 1/2 ground state and a square-planar structure. It reacts with dioxygen via one-electron oxidation to give the complex L′2Ni, and the formation of superoxide was detected spectroscopically. If oxidizable substrates are present during this process, these are oxygenated/oxidized. Triphenylphosphine is converted to phosphine oxide, and hydrogen atoms are abstracted from TEMPO-H and phenols. In the case of cyclohexene, autoxidations are triggered, leading to the typical radical-chain-derived products of cyclohexene.