C[sbnd]S cross-coupling catalyzed by a series of easily accessible, well defined Ni(II) complexes of the type [(NHC)Ni(Cp)(Br)]

Abstract

The synthesis, characterization and catalytic evaluation of a series of NHC-Ni(II) complexes1-Ni(-Me),2-Ni(-nBu) and3-Ni(-Bn) bearing a phthalimide fragment and a cyclopentadienyl (Cp) ligand is reported.The complexes were evaluated in CAS couplings of iodobenzene and a range of thiols. The reactions werecarried out using a catalyst loading of 5 mol % in DMF during 0.5–19 h. Being complex2-Nithe oneexhibiting the best activity for these transformations yielding up to 96% of products in 0.5 h