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(η 3 -methallyl)bis{μ-[(2-diphenylamino)benzoato- O: O ‘]}dinickel(II) ( 1 ), where the nitrogen atom does not coordinate to the nickel. Addition of B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 to 1 in benzene affords the nitrogen-coordinating complex [(2-diphenylamino)benzoate tris(pentafluorophenyl)borate-κ 2 N, O ](η 3 -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.