Selective metalation of phenol-type proligands for preparative organometallic chemistry

The selective C-metalation of phenol ester derived proligands is a readily applicable addition to state-of-the-art protocols toward cyclometalated structures, in particular of the base metals. The approach is demonstrated by the ortho -nickelation of a 1,10-phenanthroline based strong-field ligand platform that is a sought-after motif in the field of base-metal photochemistry. The selective C-metalation of phenol ester derived proligands is a readily applicable addition to state-of-the-art protocols toward cyclometalated structures, in particular of the base metals.