Isocyanate and carbodiimide synthesis by nitrene-group-transfer from a nickel(ii) imido complex

Abstract

The imido complex (dtbpe)Ni{N(2,6-(CHMe₂)₂C₆H₃)} reacts with CO and CNCH₂Ph with addition at the Ni–N bond to give (dtbpe)Ni{C,N:η²-C(O)N(2,6-(CHMe₂)₂C₆H₃)} and (dtbpe)Ni{C,N:η²-C(NCH₂Ph)N(2,6-(CHMe₂)₂C₆H₃)}; both complexes react further with CO to liberate the isocyanate and carbodiimide ligands with formation of (dtbpe)Ni(CO)₂.