Base metal complexes with PCP pincer ligands

Abstract

In an attempt to facilitate the formation of sigma-C-M bonds, this work describes the synthesis of PCP pincer ligands bearing bromine moieties bonded on the ipso carbon of the benzene backbone. The newly generated ligands were shown to effectively form PCP pincer complexes with a wide variety of base metals. Starting from the metal carbonyl complexes, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten as well as manganese, iron and cobalt PCP complexes were successfully synthesized and fully characterized. Nickel PCP complexes were obtained by directly reacting the metal with the ligand in acetonitrile. All compounds were characterized by means of NMR, HRMS and IR spectroscopy as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction.