Synthesis of 2-(N-arylimino-κN-methyl) pyrrolide-κN complexes of nickel

2-(N-aryliminomethyl) pyrrole precursors (2,6-R-2-C6H3-N=CH-2-C4H3NH) (R = Me, IH; R = Pr-i, IIH) were prepared and transformed into their corresponding sodium salts (Na+I and Na+II) by treatment with NaH. Both salts readily react with [NiBr2(DME)] (DME = 1,2- dimethoxyethane) to give the respective bis{2-(N-arylimino-kappa N-methyl) pyrrolide-kappa N} nickel(II) complexes (1, 2) in almost quantitative yields. The oxidative addition of IH to [Ni(COD)(2)] (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) results in the formation of 3, which is a mono(iminomethylpyrrolide)-eta(3)-(cyclic-allyl)-type organonickel(II) complex. The crystal structure of compound 1 has been established by X-ray diffraction studies. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.