Light Activation and Photophysics of a Structurally Constrained Nickel(II)–Bipyridine Aryl Halide Complex

Transition-metal photoredox catalysis has transformed organic synthesis by harnessing light to construct complex molecules. Nickel(II)–bipyridine (bpy) aryl halide complexes are a significant class of cross-coupling catalysts that can be activated via direct light excitation. This study investigates the effects of molecular structure on the photophysics of these catalysts by considering an underexplored, structurally constrained Ni(II)–bpy aryl halide complex in which the aryl and bpy ligands are covalently tethered alongside traditional unconstrained complexes. Intriguingly, the tethered complex is photochemically stable but features a reversible Ni(II)–C(aryl) ⇄ Ni(I)···C(aryl)• equilibrium upon direct photoexcitation. When an electrophile is introduced during photoirradiation, we demonstrate a preference for photodissociation over recombination, rendering the parent Ni(II) complex a stable source of a reactive Ni(I) intermediate. Here, we characterize the reversible photochemical behavior of the tethered complex by kinetic analyses, quantum chemical calculations, and ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy. Comparison to the previously characterized Ni(II)–bpy aryl halide complex indicates that the structural constraints considered here dramatically influence the excited state relaxation pathway and provide insight into the characteristics of excited-state Ni(II)–C bond homolysis and aryl radical reassociation dynamics. This study enriches the understanding of molecular structure effects in photoredox catalysis and offers new possibilities for designing customized photoactive catalysts for precise organic synthesis.