Half-sandwich nickel complexes with ring-expanded NHC ligands - synthesis, structure and catalytic activity in Kumada-Tamao-Corriu coupling.

The general synthesis of [Ni(Cp)(X)(NHC)] complexes from a nickel halide, CpLi, and a carbene solution is reported. This procedure yields unprecedented complexes with ring-expanded NHC ligands (RE-NHC) of six- (1a, 1b), seven- (1c), and eight-membered (1d) heterocycles. The NMR spectra of 1a-1d are consistent with the hindered rotation of Ni-Ccarbene and N-CMes bonds, while X-ray analyses of 1b, 1c, and 1d reveal a pronounced trans influence of the RE-NHC ligands. Complexes 1a-1e are efficient pre-catalysts in Kumada-Tamao-Corriu coupling with the maximum efficiency observed for complexes bearing the six-membered NHC.