Carbon dioxide cleavage by a Ni 2 complex supported by a binucleating bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) framework

摘要

A binucleating bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligand was designed as a means to coordinate and proximally constrain two transition metal centers. Using an imidazopyridine-based NHC afforded a framework structurally related to previously reported para-terphenyl diphosphines. Bimetallic copper, cobalt, and nickel complexes supported by this framework were synthesized and structurally characterized. Strong interactions between the metal centers and the central arene were observed in all nickel complexes. Dinickel(0) complexes of this ligand framework were found to react with CO_2 to form a dicarbonyl-bridged dinickel(0) product, demonstrating facile CO_2 reduction.