Nickel(II) complexes bearing 8-hydroxyquinoline-imine ligands: Synthesis and catalysis in hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones.

• Easily synthesized ligands and air- and moisture-stable Ni complexes. • Both aldehydes and ketones were efficiently hydrosilylated to the corresponding alcohols. • The present catalytic reaction carried out in room temperature and displayed excellent functional group tolerance. Treatment of Ni(OAc) 2 ⋅4H 2 O with 8-hydroxylquinoline-imine ligands [2-(ArN=HC)-8-OH]C 9 H 5 N (Ar = 2,6- i Pr 2 C 6 H 3 , L1H ; Ar = 2,4,6-(Me) 3 C 6 H 2 , L2H ; Ar = 4-MeC 6 H 4 , L3H and Ar = 4-ClC 6 H 4 , L4H) in refluxing EtOH afforded the dual-ligand coordinated nickel complexes [L 2 Ni] 1 - 4 , respectively. All the four nickel complexes were characterized by IR, elemental analysis and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the molecular structures of complexes 3 and 4 were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 1 - 4 were found to be efficient catalysts for hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones with PhSiH 3 as the hydrogen source. Various aromatic and aliphatic ketones and aldehydes were proven to be suitable substrates for such catalytic property, affording the corresponding alcohols in good to excellent yields. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]