J Org Chem. 1998 Jan 09;63(1):36-43. doi: 10.1021/jo970805y.
The Journal of organic chemistry
Carl G. Krespan, David A. Dixon
PMID: 11674040 DOI: 10.1021/jo970805y
Adducts of primary F-alkyl iodides with nickel carbonyl are formed readily in donor solvents and pyrolyze at 100-150 degrees C to give olefinic coupling products in high yield. The mechanism proposed to account for the observed chemistry involves preferential alpha-elimination of fluorine with formation of a carbenoid species complex coordinated to nickel. Differences in reaction paths among several types of substrate halides are rationalized on the basis of polarization of the Ni-C bond in the adducts. Support for these proposals is provided by state-of-the-art calculations.