<p>We have structurally characterized a nickel(0) thiophene complex that represents a close analog to the proposed intermediates in the mechanism of catalyst transfer polycondensation (CTP) of thiophenes. Additional studies on this intermediate allow us to determine the bonding in such complexes using a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and DFT-based computations. Our structure
of the catalyst agrees with previous postulates but provides important new
structural insights into the species. Furthermore, our studies explain why these complexes
actually exist and are stable enough to support living CTP.</p>
X-ray spectroscopic and scattering methods applied to the characterisation of cobalt-based Fischer–Tropsch synthesis catalysts