An Organometalllic NiIV Complex That Participates in Competing Transmetalation and C(sp2)–O Bond-Forming Reductive Elimination Reactions

This communication describes the synthesis of an organometallic Ni IV complex bearing a labile trifluoroacetate (OTFA) ligand via the oxidation of a Ni II precursor with PhI(OTFA) 2 . Intramolecular C(sp 2 )–O bond-forming reductive elimination from this Ni IV complex is relatively slow, requiring 6 h at 70 °C to reach completion. In contrast, transmetalation with TMSCF 3 occurs within just 1 h at room temperature to generate a Ni IV –CF 3 complex. These studies show that intermolecular reactions such as transmetalation can be competitive with intramolecular reductive elimination processes at Ni IV centers.