Cleavage of C(sp³)–F Bonds in Trifluoromethylarenes Using a Bis(NHC)nickel(0) Complex

The first example of the oxidative addition of a C­(sp3)–F bond in trifluoromethylarenes to a nickel(0) complex is described. A nickel(0) complex that bears two N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands of low steric demand is able to cleave C­(sp3)–F bonds of tri­fluoro­methyl­arenes to afford the corresponding trans-difluorobenzyl nickel­(II) fluoride complexes. Isolation and characterization studies suggested that the cleavage of the C­(sp3)–F bond proceeds via an η2-arene nickel(0) complex. Taking advantage of the reactivity of these nickel­(II) fluoride complexes, we developed a catalytic hydro­de­fluorination of tri­fluoro­methylarenes using hydrosilanes. A computational study indicated that the electron-rich nickel(0) center supported by two relatively small NHC ligands cleaves the C­(sp3)–F bond via a syn-SN2′ mechanism.