Highly reactive sigma-organonickel complexes in electrocatalytic processes

The electrochemical reduction of nickel complexes with 2,2'-bipyridine in t he presence of ortho-substituted organic halides or white phosphorus yields the highly reactive sigma -organonickel complexes. These complexes selecti vely react with organic halides forming cross-coupling products. The mechan ism of these processes was investigated using the method of cyclic voltamme try and preparative electrolysis. The key intermediates of electrochemical functioning of white phosphorus in conditions of metallocomplex catalysis w ere detected. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.