Carbon dioxide cleavage by a Ni2 complex supported by a binucleating bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) framework

First row transition metal complexes of a dinucleating bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) framework containing an arene moiety were synthesized and characterized structurally. Dinickel(0) complexes supported by this ligand react with CO2 at room temperature to cleave a CO bond and to form a dicarbonyl-bridged dinickel(0) complex.