Pronounced ligand effects and the role of formal oxidation states in the nickel-mediated thermal activation of methane

Abstract

(Graph Presented) Related but different: The thermal activation of methane by cationic nickel complexes depends crucially on the nature of ligands and the formal oxidation state of the metal, as is illustrated by the isomeric water complexes: whereas [Ni(H2O)]+ is unreactive, the Ni III isomer [Ni(H)(OH)]+ activates the C-H bond in methane. © 2007 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.