Homolytic H2 cleavage by a mercury-bridged Ni(I) pincer complex [{(PNP)Ni}2{μ-Hg}]

Abstract

Reduction of the pincer nickel(ii) complex [(PNP)NiBr] with sodium amalgam (Na/Hg) forms the mercury-bridged dimer [{(PNP)Ni}2{μ-Hg}], which homolytically cleaves dihydrogen to form [(PNP)NiH]. Reversible CO2 insertion into the Ni-H bond is observed for [(PNP)NiH], forming the monodentate κ1O-formate complex [(PNP)NiOC(O)H].