Oxidatively Induced C–H Activation at High Valent Nickel

This communication describes a series of oxidatively induced intramolecular arene C–H activation reactions of Ni II model complexes to yield Ni IV σ-aryl products. These reactions proceed within 10 min at room temperature, which represents among the mildest conditions reported for C–H cleavage at a Ni center. A combination of density functional theory and preliminary experimental mechanistic studies implicate a pathway involving initial 2e – oxidation of the Ni II starting materials by the F + transfer reagent N -fluoro-2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium triflate followed by triflate-assisted C–H cleavage at Ni IV to yield the products.