DEVELOPMENT OF NI(II) AMINOPHOSPHINITE PINCER COMPLEXES FOR TRANSFER HYDROGENATION REACTIONS OF N-CONTAINING COMPOUNDS

Abstract

Transfer hydrogenation is a safer and cheaper alternative to the conventional hydrogenation with hydrogen gas. Although majority of efficient homogeneous transfer hydrogenation mechanisms are made using precious metal complexes, they are expensive and toxic. Base metal complexes are more scarce, especially for Ni(II), but are usually cheaper and less toxic than precious metal complexes. Primary amines are formed as a result of transfer hydrogenation of nitriles, and have a large variety of applications. This paper reports the application of Ni(II) aminophosphinite pincer complex for transfer hydrogenation of 8 nitriles and an attempt at synthesizing a similar complex with silyl functionality for a potential catalyst immobilization. Additionally, literature analysis of existing studies on transfer hydrogenation of nitriles using Ni(II) complexes is performed.