Reductive Elimination from Sterically Encumbered Ni-Polypyridine Complexes.

Herein we disclose the synthesis of sterically encumbered dialkylnickel(II) complexes bearing 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline ligands. A comparison with their unsubstituted analogues by both X-ray crystallography and theoretical calculations revealed significant distortions in their molecular structures. Eyring plots along with stoichiometric and photoexcitation studies revealed that sterically encumbered dialkylnickel(II) complexes enable facile C( sp 3 )-C( sp 3 ) reductive elimination, thus offering an improved understanding of Ni catalysis.