C-H Activation of Benzene by a Photoactivated Ni(II)(azide): Formation of a Transient Nickel Nitrido Complex.

Photochemical activation of nickel-azido complex 2 [Ni(N3)(PNP)] (PN(H)P=2,2'-di(isopropylphosphino)-4,4'-ditolylamine) in neat benzene produces diamagnetic complex 3 [Ni(Ph)(PN(P)N(H))], which is crystallographically characterized. DFT calculations support photoinitiated N2-loss of the azido complex to generate a rare, transient Ni(IV) nitrido species, which bears significant nitridyl radical character. Subsequent trapping of this nitrido through insertion into the Ni-P bond generates a coordinatively unsaturated Ni(II) imidophosphorane P=N donor. This species shows unprecedented reactivity toward 1,2-addition of a C-H bond of benzene to form 3. The structurally characterized chlorido complex 4 [Ni(Cl)(PN(P)N(H))] is generated by reaction of 3 with HCl or by direct photolysis of 2 in chlorobenzene. This is the first report of aromatic C-H bond activation by a trapped transient nitrido species of a late transition metal.