[Ni 3 ( i Pr 2 Im) 3 ( µ 2 ‐CO) 3 ( µ 3 ‐CO)] – A CO‐Stabilized NHC Analogue of the Parent Neutral Nickel Chini‐Type Cluster

The reactivity of nickel tetracarbonyl [Ni(CO) 4 ] with the N ‐Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHCs) 1,3‐diisopropylimidazolin‐2‐ylidene ( i Pr 2 Im) and 1,3‐di( iso propyl)‐4,5‐di(methyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene ( i Pr 2 Im Me ) is reported. The reaction of [Ni(CO) 4 ] with two equiv. i Pr 2 Im and i Pr 2 Im Me and one equiv. i Pr 2 Im Me leads to the formation of the complexes [Ni( i Pr 2 Im) 2 (CO) 2 ] 2 , [Ni( i Pr 2 Im Me ) 2 (CO) 2 ] 3 , and [Ni( i Pr 2 Im Me )(CO) 3 ] 4 . The reaction of [Ni(CO) 4 ] with one equiv. (or less) i Pr 2 Im affords the triangular 44 VE (valence electron) cluster complex [Ni 3 ( i Pr 2 Im) 3 ( µ 2 ‐CO) 3 ( µ 3 ‐CO)] 1 , a NHC‐stabilized analogue of the parent neutral nickel Chini cluster [Ni 3 (CO) 3 ( µ 2 ‐CO) 3 ].