N–N bond cleavage in a nitrous oxide–NHC adduct promoted by a PNP pincer cobalt(I) complex

The reactivity of a PNP cobalt(I) complex towards the nitrous oxide N-heterocyclic carbene adduct (NHC–N2O) was explored. Several products were isolated including the cobalt nitrosyl complex (HPNP)Co(NO) (1) and the NHC-derived imine NHCNH (2). This study provides a rare example of metal-mediated rupture of the N–N bond in a nitrous oxide derivative, a route that could be used to generate late-metal nitrosyls.

Graphical abstractA PNP cobalt(I) complex was allowed to react with the nitrous oxide N-heterocyclic carbene adduct (NHC–N2O). Several products were isolated and two were characterized including the cobalt nitrosyl complex (PNP)CoNO and the 1,3-dimesitylimidazolin-2-imine NHCNH. Heterolytic or homolytic bond cleavage of the N–N bond from NHC–N2O could be used to generate late-metal nitrosyls.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide