Synthesis and reactivity of NHC-supported Ni2(μ(2)-η(2),η(2)-S2)-bridging disulfide and Ni2(μ-S)2-bridging sulfide complexes.

The (IPr)Ni scaffold stabilizes low-coordinate, mononuclear and dinuclear complexes with a diverse range of sulfur ligands, including μ(2)-η(2),η(2)-S2, η(2)-S2, μ-S, and μ-SH motifs. The reaction of {(IPr)Ni}2(μ-Cl)2 (1, IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) with S8 yields the bridging disulfide species {(IPr)ClNi}2(μ(2)-η(2),η(2)-S2) (2). Complex 2 reacts with 2 equiv of AdNC (Ad = adamantyl) to yield a 1:1 mixture of the terminal disulfide compound (IPr)(AdNC)Ni(η(2)-S2) (3a) and trans-(IPr)(AdNC)NiCl2 (4a). 2 also reacts with KC8 to produce the Ni-Ni-bonded bridging sulfide complex {(IPr)Ni}2(μ-S)2 (6). Complex 6 reacts with H2 to yield the bridging hydrosulfide compound {(IPr)Ni}2(μ-SH)2 (7), which retains a Ni-Ni bond. 7 is converted back to 6 by hydrogen atom abstraction by 2,4,6-(t)Bu3-phenoxy radical. The 2,6-diisopropylphenyl groups of the IPr ligand provide lateral steric protection of the (IPr)Ni unit but allow for the formation of Ni-Ni-bonded dinuclear species and electronically preferred rather than sterically preferred structures.