Influence of the coordination mode in [Ni{RC(S)NP(S)(OiPr)2}2] for the formation of nickel-containing nanoparticles

Abstract

The complex [Ni{2-PyNHC(S)NP(S)(OiPr)₂-1,5,7-N,N′,S}₂] ([NiL^I₂]) dissolved in tri-n-octylphosphine (TOP) is decomposed in hot hexadecylamine (HDA) to give TOP-capped Ni nanoparticles. The same procedure using [Ni{2-MeC₆H₄NHC(S)NP(S)(OiPr)₂}₂-1,3-N,S] ([NiL^II₂]) and [Ni{PhC(S)NP(S)(OiPr)₂-1,5-S,S′}₂] ([NiL^III₂]) leads to the formation of NiS nanoparticles with the rhombohedral and hexagonal structures, respectively. NiH_x nanoparticles were also produced from a mixture of [NiL^I₂] and N₂H₄. The obtained Ni nanoparticles can be used for the catalytic addition of Ph₂S₂ to 1-, 2- and 3-hexynes.