d8 Nickel and palladium difluorocarbenes derived from trifluoromethyl POCOP-type pincer complexes

Abstract

In this study, trifluoromethyl POCOP-type pincer complexes (iPrPOCOP)Ni(CF3) (1-CF3) and (iPrPOCOP)Pd(CF3) (2-CF3) are prepared. These complexes undergo Lewis acid-mediated fluoride abstraction to furnish cationic d8 difluorocarbene complexes of the type [(iPrPOCOP)M(=CF2)]+[X]-, which are characterized in solution and for M = Ni using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The electrophilic nature of these difluorocarbene complexes is discussed, including their reactivity with pyridines.