Alkaline earth metal-assisted dinitrogen activation at nickel†‡

Abstract

Rare examples of trinuclear [Ni–N₂–M–N₂–Ni] core (M = Ca, Mg) with linear bridged dinitrogen ligands are reported in this work. The reduction of [ⁱPr₂NN]Ni(μ-Br)₂Li(thf)₂ (1) (ⁱPr₂NN = 2,4-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimido)pentyl) with elemental Mg or Ca in THF under an atmosphere of dinitrogen yields the complex {ⁱPr₂NNNi(μ-N₂)}₂M (thf)₄ (M = Mg, complex 2 and M = Ca, complex 3). The bridging end-on (μ-N₂)₂M(thf)₄ moiety connects the two [ⁱPr₂NNNi]⁻ nickelate fragments. A combination of X-ray crystallography, solution and solid-state spectroscopy have been applied to characterize complexes 2 and 3, and DFT studies have been used to help explain the bonding and electronic structure in these unique Ni–N₂–Mg and Ni–N₂–Ca complexes.