Ni(COD)(DQ): An Air-Stable 18-Electron Nickel(0)-Olefin Precatalyst

We report that Ni(COD)(DQ) (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene, DQ=duroquinone), an air-stable 18-electron complex originally described by Schrauzer in 1962, is a competent precatalyst for a variety of nickel-catalyzed synthetic methods from the literature. Due to its apparent stability, use of Ni(COD)(DQ) as a precatalyst allows reactions to be conveniently performed without use of an inert-atmosphere glovebox, as demonstrated across several case studies.