Synthesis and Characterization of Two Isostructural POCOP Ni(II) Pincer Complexes Containing Fluorothiophenolate Ligands: [Ni(SC6F4-4-H){C6H2-3-(C2H3O)-2,6-(OPiPr2)2}] and [Ni(SC6F5){C6H2-3-(C2H3O)-2,6-(OPiPr2)2}]

Abstract

Among their many applications, metal pincer complexes are of interest for their properties as catalysts in cross-coupling reactions. Pincer ligands exhibit tridentate coordination to the metal center and occupy the meridional positions forming two chelate rings. The two Ni(II) POCOP pincer complexes with a fluorothiophenolate ligand reported herein, with formulas [Ni(SC6F4-4-H){C6H2-3-(C2H3O)-2,6-(OPiPr2)2}] (2) and [Ni(SC6F5){C6H2-3-(C2H3O)-2,6-(OPiPr2)2}] (3), are isostructural. Additionally, they are prepared in a facile manner from the chloride compound [NiCl{C6H2-3-(C2H3O)-2-6-(OPiPr2)2}] (1). The complexes exhibited slightly distorted square planar geometries around the metal. The fluorothiophenolate ligands are responsible of the C—H···F, C—F···π and C=O···πF interactions that contribute to stabilize the crystal structure arrays.