Some Reactions of trans-Hydridochlorobis(tricyclohexylphosphine)nickel(II), trans-Ni(Cl)(H)[P(C6H11)3]2

Abstract

Some reactions of the title compound with several ligands, including olefins and acetylenes have been conducted and the new complexes trans-[NiH{P(C6H11)3}2L]BF4, L = methylpyridine or acetonitrile have been isolated. Although the bulky phosphine apparently hinders reaction sterically, with hexafluoro-2-butyne a product is obtained which is tentatively characterized as Ni(CF3C≡CCF3)3P(C6H11)3. This compound is thought to contain the seven-membered ring nickelahexakis(trifluoromethane)cyclohepta-cis,cis,cis-triene. Pyrolysis of this compound yields hexakis(trifluoromethyl)benzene. A reaction of the nickel hydride also occurs with carbon monoxide in the presence of TlBF4 to give Ni(CO)3P(C6H11)3 and [P(H)(C6H11)3]BF4. This reaction can be considered to result from the reductive elimination of [P(H)(C6H11)3]Cl.