Synthesis, Molecular Structures, and Norbornene Polymerization of Methallyl Nickel(II) Complexes of 2-(Diphenylamino)benzoate

Reaction of 2-(diphenylamino)benzoic acid with bis(methallyl)nickel(II) results in the dinuclear complex bis(η3-methallyl)bis{μ-[(2-diphenylamino)benzoato-O:O‘]}dinickel(II) (1), where the nitrogen atom does not coordinate to the nickel. Addition of B(C6F5)3 to 1 in benzene affords the nitrogen-coordinating complex [(2-diphenylamino)benzoate tris(pentafluorophenyl)borate-κ2N,O](η3-methallyl)nickel(II) (2). The structures of 1 and 2 are confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Complex 2 shows good activity for norbornene polymerization, while complex 1 is inactive.