Synthesis and characterization of nickel(II) maltolate complexes containing ancillary bisphosphine ligands

Cationic nickel(II) complexes containing chelating O,O′-donor maltolate or ethyl maltolate ligands in conjunction with bidentate bisphosphine ligands Ph₂P(CH₂) _n PPh₂ were prepared by a one-pot reaction starting from nickel(II) acetate, bisphosphine, maltol (or ethyl maltol), and trimethylamine, and isolated as their tetraphenylborate salts. An X-ray structure determination of Ni(maltolate)(Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂)]BPh₄ shows that the maltolate ligand binds asymmetrically to the (slightly distorted) square-planar nickel(II) center. The simplicity of the synthetic method was extended to the synthesis of the known platinum(II) maltolate complex Pt(maltolate)(PPh₃)₂]BPh₄ which was obtained in high purity.