Boryl-assisted hydrogenolysis of a nickel–methyl bond†
Abstract
A stable nickel(II) methyl complex containing a diphosphino-boryl (PBP) pincer ligand is described. Mechanistic studies on the hydrogenolysis of the Ni–Me bond suggest a metal ligand cooperation mechanism that involves the intermediacy of a σ-B–H Ni(0) species that further undergoes B–H oxidative addition to form a Ni(II) hydride complex.