Strongly bent nickel imides supported by a chelating bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligand

Abstract

The synthesis and redox reactivity of unusual bent nickel-arylimido complexes of the type L₂NiNAr supported by a new chelating bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligand are described, including experimental, structural, and computational data to validate this atypical binding motif. Upon oxidation the strongly bent imido complex undergoes C,C-coupling and dehydrogenation to afford a complex bearing an unusual diphenoquinonediimine ligand bridging two Ni(II) centers.