Modular routes towards new N,O-bidentate ligands containing an electronically delocalised β-enaminone chelating backbone

Polyketones are synthesised by a transition-metal-catalysed copolymerisation of olefins and carbon monoxide. Nickel complexes with N,O-chelating ligands turned out to be promising catalysts in that field. In this work a series of new N,O ligands with an electronically delocalised beta-enaminone backbone were synthesised and fully characterised. The ligand design was inspired by the ligand found in the most efficient nickel catalyst for polyketone synthesis and developed to a highly modular LEGO (R)-like arsenal of reactions to versatile substituted beta-enaminone ligands. ((c) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008).