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Nature utilizes multimetallic sites in metalloenzymes to enable multielectron chemical transformations at ambient conditions and low overpotentials. One such example of multimetallic cooperativity can be found in the C-cluster of Ni-carbon monoxide dehydrogenase (CODH), which interconverts CO and CO 2 . Toward a potential functional model of the C-cluster, a family of Ni-Fe bimetallic complexes was synthesized that contain direct metal-metal bonding interactions. The complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, various spectroscopies (NMR, EPR, UV-vis, Mössbauer), and theoretical calculations. The Ni-Fe bimetallic system has a reversible Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple at -2.10 V (vs Fc + /Fc). The Fe-based "redox switch" can turn on CO 2 reactivity at the Ni(0) center by leveraging the Ni→Fe dative interaction to attenuate the Ni(0) electron density. The reduced Ni(0)Fe(II) species mediated the formal two-electron reduction of CO 2 to CO, providing a Ni-CO adduct and CO 3 2- as products. During the reaction, an intermediate was observed that is proposed to be a Ni-CO 2 species.

A series of bimetallic complexes pairing zero-valent nickel with group 13 M(III) ions is reported. Stronger Ni→M(III) dative bonds that render Ni more electron-deficient are seen for larger ions (In > Ga > Al). The larger Ga and In ions stabilize rare, nonclassical Ni-H2 adducts that catalyze olefin hydrogenation. In contrast, neither the Ni-Al complex nor a single nickel center enables H2 binding or olefin hydrogenation. By comparison of the structures, redox properties, and catalytic activities of the Ni-M series, the electronic and steric effects of the supporting metal ion are elucidated.

The electronic structures of nickel and cobalt centers coordinated by two alpha-iminoketone ligands have been elucidated using density functional theory calculations and a host of physical methods such as X-ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. In principle, alpha-iminoketone ligands can exist in three oxidation levels: the closed-shell neutral form (L)0, the closed-shell dianion (L(red))(2-), and the open-shell monoanion (L*)(-). Herein, the monoanionic pi-radical form (L*)(-) of alpha-iminoketones is characterized in the compounds [(L*)2Ni] (1) and [(L*)2Co] (3), where (L*)(-) is the one-electron-reduced form of the neutral ligand (t-Bu)N=CH-C(Ph)=O. The metal centers in 1 and 3 are divalent, high-spin, and coupled antiferromagnetically to two ligand pi radicals. These bis(ligand)metal complexes can be chemically oxidized by two electrons to give the dications [trans-(L)2Ni(CH3CN)2](PF6)2 (2) and [trans-(L)2Co(CH3CN)2](PF6)2 (4), wherein the ligands are in the neutral form.

Pincer‐type nickel–aluminum complexes were synthesized using two equivalents of the phosphinoamide, [PhNCH2PiPr2]−. The Ni0–AlIII complexes, {(MesPAlP)Ni}2(μ‐N2) and {(MesPAlP)Ni}2(μ‐COD), where MesPAlP is (Mes)Al(NPhCH2PiPr2)2, were structurally characterized. The (PAlP)Ni system exhibited cooperative bond cleavage mediated by the two‐site Ni–Al unit, including oxidative addition of aryl halides, H2 activation, and ortho‐directed C−H bond activation of pyridine N‐oxide. One intriguing reaction is the reversible intramolecular transfer of the mesityl ring from the Al to the Ni site, which is evocative of the transmetalation step during cross‐coupling catalysis. The aryl‐transfer product,(THF)Al(NPhCH2PiPr2)2Ni(Mes), is the first example of a first‐row transition metal–aluminyl pincer complex. The addition of a judicious donor enables the Al metalloligand to convert reversibly between the alane and aluminyl forms via aryl group transfer to and from Ni, respectively. Theoretical calculations support a zwitterionic Niδ−–Alδ+ electronic structure in the nickel–aluminyl complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Formal nickelate(−I) complexes bearing Group 13 metalloligands (M=Al and Ga) were isolated. These 17 e− complexes were synthesized by one‐electron reduction of the corresponding Ni0→MIII precursors, and were investigated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, EPR spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations. Collectively, the experimental and computational data support: 1) the strengthening of the Ni−M bond upon one‐electron reduction, and 2) the delocalization of the unpaired spin across the Ni and M atoms. An intriguing electronic configuration is revealed where three valence electrons occupy two σ‐type bonding interactions: Ni(3d z 2 )2→M and σ‐(Ni−M)1. The latter is an unusual Ni−M σ‐bonding molecular orbital that comprises primarily the Ni 4pz and M npz/ns atomic orbitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coordination complexes that pair a zero-valent transition metal (Ni, Co, Fe) and an aluminum(III) center have been prepared. They add to the few examples of structurally characterized metal alanes and are the first reported metallalumatranes. To understand the M-Al interaction and gauge the effect of varying the late metal, the complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, electrochemistry, UV-Vis-NIR and NMR spectroscopies, and theoretical calculations. The M-Al bond strength decreases with varying M in the order Ni > Co > Fe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diphosphine 4,6-bis(3-diisopropylphosphinophenyl)dibenzofuran (abbreviated as iPrDPDBFphos) has been metalated with transition metal dichlorides of zinc, cobalt, and nickel to yield (iPrDPDBFphos)MCl2 complexes. Within these compounds, the diphosphine iPrDPDBFphos adapts a wide range of bite angles (115 to 180°) as determined by X-ray crystallography. A three-coordinate planar Ni(I) species was isolated from the reduction of (iPrDPDBFphos)NiCl2 with KC8. Low-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements of (iPrDPDBFphos)NiCl allow the determination of g values (2.09, 2.14, 2.37) and hyperfine coupling constants to two 31P nuclei, Aiso = 46 × 10-4 cm-1, and one 37Cl/35Cl nucleus, A = (12, 0.7, 35) × 10-4 cm-1. Density functional theory (DFT) studies reveal the nature of the magnetic orbital to be dxy, which has σ-antibonding and π∥ -antibonding interactions with the phosphorus and chloride atoms, respectively. The monovalent nickel complex reacts with substrates containing C-X bonds; and in the case of vinyl chloride, a Ni(II) vinyl species (iPrDPDBFphos)Ni(CH-CH2)Cl is generated along with the Ni(II) dichloride complex. The monovalent Ni(I) chloride is an active catalyst in the Kumada cross-coupling reaction of vinyl chloride and phenyl Grignard reagent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]