Synthesis and Structure of Three Unusual Homoleptic Aryloxides of Nickel and Palladium

Homoleptic group 10 aryloxides consisting of discrete molecules have been isolated from the reaction of the sodium salts of bulky phenols with NiBr 2 (dme) or PdCl 2 (MeCN) 2 . The nickel 2,6-diisopropylphenolate is a trimer, displaying σ-coordinated aryloxide ligands, while the Ni and Pd derivatives of 2,6-di- tert -butylphenol are monomers that adopt an unprecedented π-allylic, sandwich-like structure.