Nickel-catalyzed synthesis of Zn(I)-Zn(I) bonded compounds.

This work reports the first catalyzed synthesis of d-block metal-metal bonded complexes. The treatment of terminal zinc hydrides [LZnH] [L = CH3C(2,6-iPr2C6H3N)CHC(CH3)(N(CH2)nCH2PR2); n = 1, 2; R = Ph, iPr] in the presence of 5 mol% Ni(CO)2(PPh3)2 afforded Zn(I)-Zn(I) bonded compounds [L2Zn2] in high isolated yields with concomitant elimination of dihydrogen. Stoichiometric reactions, kinetic studies and DFT calculations were conducted to elucidate the reaction mechanism.