Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Activity of Ni(0) (DQ)dtbbpy, an Air-Stable, Bifunctional...

Area of Science:

• Organometallic Chemistry
• Photocatalysis
• Organic Synthesis

Background:

• Nickel(0) precatalysts are well-established in catalysis.
• The bifunctional potential of nickel(0) complexes as precatalysts is largely unexplored.
• Developing efficient and stable precatalysts for organic transformations is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel bifunctional nickel(0) complex, Ni(0)(DQ)dtbbpy.
• To evaluate its catalytic activity in etherification and amination reactions.
• To investigate its unique photophysical properties and catalytic mechanism.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of the nickel(0) complex.
• Catalytic evaluation for aryl bromide etherification and amination under red light irradiation (620-630 nm).
• Mechanistic studies including density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized and characterized the air-stable, red-light-sensitive Ni(0)(DQ)dtbbpy complex.
• Demonstrated its efficacy as a bifunctional precatalyst, acting as both a photocatalyst and active metal catalyst.
• Confirmed strong red-light absorption and light-triggered electron transfer processes via mechanistic studies and DFT.

Conclusions:

• Ni(0)(DQ)dtbbpy is a novel bifunctional precatalyst with significant potential in organic synthesis.
• Its red-light sensitivity and dual catalytic role offer a new avenue for efficient aryl bromide functionalization.
• The study highlights the importance of exploring bifunctional nickel(0) complexes in photocatalysis.