Abstract
A T-shaped octafluoronickelacyclopentane–NHC complex is prepared and characterized. While the solid-state structure includes a weak isopropyl-CH
3
agostic interaction, the reactivity of this complex with Lewis- and Brønsted acids is clearly enhanced by its low coordination number. Reaction with Me
3
SiOTf, for example, yielded a rare metal–heptafluorocyclobutyl complex whereas carboxylic acids gave substitution at the α-carbon and/or Ni–C
F
bond protonolysis to afford thermally robust 4
H
-octafluorobutyl Ni complexes.