Halonickel(I) complexes

The reduction of nickel(II) halides with NaBH4 in the presence of different ligands, L=PPh3, AsPh3, SbPh3, has been studied. With a molar ratio L/Ni=3, new complexes NiX(SbPh3)3, X=Cl, Br, I, were obtained. With a molar ratio L/Ni=2, dimeric species [NiXL2]2, X=Cl, Br, I; L=PPh3, AsPh3, SbPh3, were isolated. They are unstable and decompose easily in the solid and rapidly in solution, so that pure samples were only identified for X=Cl, L=PPh3, AsPh3, SbPh3; X=Br, L=PPh3 and X=I, L=PPh3. With a molar ratio L/Ni=1, complexes [NiXL]n (probably polymeric) were obtained. They are very unstable and pure samples could only be isolated when X=Cl, L=PPh3. Impure substances containing variable amounts of decomposition products were obtained in all the remaining cases. The chemical and structural behaviour of these complexes is discussed.Comisión Asesora de Investigación Científica y Técnica - CAICy