Insertion reactions of (benzyne)nickel(0) complexes with carbon monoxide: X-ray structure of a (phthalato)nickel(II) complex formed by oxidation of an eta(1):eta(1)-phthaloyl intermediate

The reaction of (benzyne)nickel(O) complexes Ni(eta(2)-C6H4)(dcpe) (1) and Ni((1,2-eta)-4,5-F2C6H2)(dcpe) (2) [dcpe = 1,2-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane, (C6H11)(2)PCH2CH3P(C6H11)(2)] with carbon monoxide at low concentration gives Ni(CO)(2)(dcpe) (3) and, as the main organic products, 9H-fluoren-9-one (4) and 2,3,6,7-tetrafluoro-9H-fluoren-9-one (5), 2,3,6,7-X(4)C(12)H(4)CO (X = H, F), respectively, resulting from monoinsertion into the nickel-benzyne bond. Higher concentrations of CO give rise to bis(acyl) intermediates, one of which, Ni(CO-4,5-F2C6H2CO-2)(dcpe) (9), has been observed by P-31 and F-19 NMR spectroscopy. These intermediates reversibly form 3 and the corresponding benzocyclobutenediones OC-4,5-X(2)C(6)H(2)CO [X = H (12), F (13)] by reductive elimination and react readily with oxygen to form the stable (phthalato)nickel(II) complexes Ni(OCOC6H4COO-(2))(dcpe) (6) and Ni(OCO4,5-F2C6H2COO-2)(dcpe) (7). On treatment with iodine, the latter give the corresponding phthalic anhydrides C6H4C2O3 (10) and 4,5-F2C6H2C2O3 (11), respectively. According to a single-crystal X-ray study, 7 is a planar nickel(II) complex containing a seven-membered chelate ring with monodentate carboxylato groups, the average Ni-O and Ni-P distances being 1.904(4) and 2.152(2) Angstrom, respectively.