Ni(II) complexes of tripodal N4 ligands as catalysts for alkane hydroxylation and O-arylation of phenol: Structural and reactivity effects induced by fluoro substitution

Nickel(II) complexes [NiII(L1-2)(OAc)(H2O)][BPh4] (1?2) and [NiII(L3)(OAc)][BPh4] (3) derived from fluorinated tripodal ligands viz. N-((6-fluoropyridin-2-yl)methyl)(pyridin-2-yl)-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)methanamine (L1 or FTPA), N,N?-bis((6-fluoropyridin-2-yl)methyl)(pyridin-2-yl)methanamine (L2 or F2TPA) and tris((6fluoropyridin-2-yl)methyl)amine (L3 or F3TPA) have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic (UV?visible, FT-IR, paramagnetic NMR), elemental analysis, electrochemistry and X-ray diffraction techniques. In structurally similar complexes 1 and 2, Ni(II) center has a distorted octahedral coordination geometry constituted by all the four N atoms of the ligands, one acetate group and a water molecule. Complex 3 has different structural aspects. It does not have the water molecule in the coordination sphere and contains one acetate group bound with metal center in a bidentate mode. All the complexes exhibit a one-electron oxidation corresponding to the NiII/NiIII redox couple, the potential of which is influenced by the donor functionalities of ligand. These complexes catalyze the oxidation of cyclohexane efficiently (turn over number: 586?698) and selectively (alcohol to ketone ratio: 7.9:1 to 8.4:1). The study also includes the catalysis of adamantane oxidation to a mixture of ketones and alcohols. Catalytic potential of all the three complexes (1?3) has also been screened for C?O coupling reactions of phenol with aryl halides. Among them, complex 1 is more efficient than 2 and 3 for such reactions.