Kinetics and Mechanism of Thermal Decomposition of Bis(η3-Allyl)Nickel Complexes

Abstract

The kinetics of thermal decomposition of bis(η³-allyl) nickel complexes in various media is studied. The specific features of the mechanism are determined, including the combination of the stages of trans-cis isomerization of Niall₂ and the bimolecular decomposition of the cis-isomer with diallyl formation. The effect of autocatalytic decomposition of complexes with metallic nickel is been detected. The qualitative dependences of the process rate on the nature of the solvent and the structure of the allyl ligand are determined. The activation parameters of individual steps, consistent with quantum chemical calculations, are found.