Catalytic reduction of 1-bromodecane and 1-iododecane by electrogenerated, structurally modified nickel(I) salen

Cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential (bulk) electrolysis have been used to characterize the behavior of a structurally modified nickel(I) salen species, that can be electrogenerated at carbon cathodes in dimethylformamide (DMF) containing 0.10 M tetra‑n‑butylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TBABF4) to catalyze the reductions of 1‑bromodecane (1) and 1‑iododecane (2). This nickel(I) complex possesses a methyl protecting group on each imino (CN) bond, as well as a N‑methyl‑N‑phenylaminomethyl moiety on each aryl group. In its active form, the nickel(I) species can reduce 1 or 2 at a more positive potential than is needed to reduce either substrate directly at a carbon cathode. Bulk electrolysis of the parent nickel(II) complex in the presence of 1 and 2 results in a mixture of n‑eicosane, n‑decane, 1‑decene, and N,N‑dimethylundecanamide, that were identified and quantitated with the aid of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and gas chromatography (GC). A mechanistic scheme is proposed to account for the formation of the various products. Robustness of the new nickel(I) catalyst was also investigated and was compared to that encountered with unmodified nickel(I) salen. •1‑Bromo‑ and 1‑iododecane undergo a one-step direct reduction at glassy carbon.•A modified nickel(II) salen procatalyst has been electrochemically investigated.•Cyclic voltammetry has been used to study catalytic reduction of 1‑halodecanes.•Radical intermediates arise from catalytic reduction of 1‑halodecanes.