A structurally characterized nitrous oxide complex of vanadium

Nitrous oxide (N(2)O), a widespread greenhouse gas, is a thermodynamically potent and environmentally green oxidant that is an attractive target for activation by metal centers. However, N(2)O remains underutilized owing to its high kinetic stability, and the poor ligand properties of this molecule have made well-characterized metal-N(2)O complexes a rarity. We now report a vanadium-pyrrolide system that reversibly binds N(2)O at room temperature and provide the first single-crystal X-ray structure of such a complex. Further characterization by vibrational spectroscopy and DFT calculations strongly favor assignment as a linear, N-bound metal-N(2)O complex.     

The first structurally characterized nitrosyl heme thiolate model complex

The NO ligand in the formally {FeNO}6 compound [Fe(oep)(NO)(thiolate)] is bent, and does not impart a significant structural trans effect to the Fe-S bond.     

Synthesis and ethylene oligomerization behavior of trinuclear nickel complex with phosphorus dendrimer

Transition Metal Chemistry - A phosphorus dendrimer with multiple amino groups was synthesized via a two-step reaction with phosphonitrilic chloride trimer and 4-acetamidophenol. The trinuclear...     

SHOP-type nickel complexes with alkyl substituents on phosphorus, synthesis and catalytic ethylene oligomerization

The beta-keto phosphorus ylides (n-Bu)3P=CHC(O)Ph 6, (t-Bu)2PhP=CHC(O)Ph 7, (t-Bu)Ph2P=CHC(O)Ph 8, (n-Bu)2PhP=CHC(O)Ph 9, (n-Bu)Ph2P=CHC(O)Ph 10, Me2PhP=CHC(O)Ph 11 and Ph3P=CHC(O)(o-OMe-C6H4) 12 have been synthesized in 80-96% yields. The Ni(II) complexes [NiPh{Ph2PCH...C(...O)(o-OMeC6H4)}(PPh3)] 13, [NiPh{Ph(t-Bu)PCHC(O)Ph}(PPh3)] 15, [NiPh{(n-Bu)2PCH...C(...O)Ph}(PPh3)] 16 and [NiPh{Ph(n-Bu)PCH...C(...O)Ph}(PPh3)] 17 have been prepared by reaction of equimolar amounts of [Ni(COD)2] and PPh3 with the beta-keto phosphorus ylides 12 or 8-10, respectively, and characterized by 1H and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy. NMR studies and the crystal structure determination of 13 indicated an interaction between the hydrogen atom of the C-H group alpha to phosphorus and the ether function. The complexes [NiPh{Ph2PCHC(O)Ph}(Py)] 18, [NiPh{Ph(t-Bu)PCHC(O)Ph}(Py)] 19, [NiPh{(n-Bu)2PCH...C(...O)Ph}(Py)] 20, [NiPh{Ph(n-Bu)PCH...C(...O)Ph}(Py)] 21 and [NiPh{Me2PCH...C(...O)Ph}(Py)] 22 have been isolated from the reactions of [Ni(COD)2] and an excess of pyridine with the -keto phosphorus ylides Ph3PCH=C(O)Ph 3 or 8-11, respectively, and characterized by 1H and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy. Ligands 3, 8, 10 and 12 have been used to prepare in situ oligomerization catalysts by reaction with one equiv. of [Ni(COD)2] and PPh3 under an ethylene pressure of 30 or 60 bar. The catalyst prepared in situ from 12, [Ni(COD)2] and PPh3 was the most active of the series with a TON of 12700 mol C2H4 (mol Ni)-1 under 30 bar ethylene. When the beta-keto phosphorus ylide 8 was reacted in situ with three equiv. of [Ni(COD)2] and one equiv. of PPh3 under 30 bar of ethylene, ethylene polymerization was observed with a TON of 5500 mol C2H4 (mol Ni)-1.     

Synthesis,characterization, and catalytic ethylene oligomerization of pyridine-imine palladium complexes

Two neutral five-membered pyridine-imine palladium complexes with the bulky dibenzhydryl (CH(Ph)2) substituted aniline were synthesized and fully characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and X-ray crystal diffraction.Well-defined cationic palladium complexes were further obtained by treatment of chloromethylpalladium complexes with sodium tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate (NaBArF) in CH3CN.Cationic palladium complexes were capable of catalyzing ethylene oligomerization without any cocatalysts.The influences of catalyst structure,reaction temperature,and ethylene pressure on ethylene oligomerization were studied in detail.The introduction of bulky benzhydryl (CH(Ph)2) on the ortho position of the aniline moiety enhanced catalytic activity,thermal stability of the catalyst,and molecular weight of the obtained products.Highly branched oligomers with molecular weights of 600-800 g/mol and narrow polydispersities (1.03-1.12) were produced.     

A readily-prepared and efficient solid-supported scavenger for molybdenum alkoxides and a structurally characterized model complex

A very effective solid support for the removal of molybdenum-based metathesis catalysts can be prepared by placing a salicylimine on a polystyrene support. The resin is produced by treating Merrifield’s resin with H₂NBuⁿ, 4-chloromethylsalicylaldehyde, and p-toluidine in succession. The final resin had an identifiable CN stretch in the IR and a resonance assigned to the HCN hydrogen was found by MAS ¹H NMR of the swelled resin. Solutions of Mo[C(H)CMe₂Ph](NAr)(OBu^t_F6)₂ (Mo_F6) and Mo[C(H)CMe₂Ph](NAr)(OAd)₂ (Mo_Ad), where Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl and Ad = 1-adamantyl, were treated with the scavenger, which reduced the remaining molybdenum concentration as examined by ICP-MS to 30-50 ppb. Catalyst was also scavenged from ring-closing metathesis of diethyl diallylmalonate by Mo_F6; the decrease in molybdenum concentration on addition of scavenger followed first order kinetics with initial and final concentrations of 54 000 and 15 ppb, respectively. We also prepared a model system where a soluble salicylimine (H-DIB) was reacted with Mo[C(H)CMe₂Ph](NAr)(OAd)₂ to produce Mo[C(H)CMe₂Ph](NAr)(DIB)₂, which was structurally characterized.     

Tricarbonylmanganese(I)-lysozyme complex: a structurally characterized organometallic protein

The reaction of the new and structurally characterized covalent {Mn(CO)(3)(H(2)O)(2)}(+)-lysozyme adduct with NiS(4) and NiN(2)S(2) complexes generates binuclear Ni-Mn complexes; relevance to the reactivity of the protein-bound {Fe(CO)(CN)(2)} intermediate during maturation of [NiFe] hydrogenases is discussed.     

The first structurally characterized N-heterocyclic carbene complex with a ligand derived from pyrimidine

Oxidative addition of N-alkyl-2-halopyrimidinium cations to [Pd(PPh₃)₄] gives straightforward access to the cationic complexes [(PPh₃)₂(NHC)PdX]BF₄ (3a,b) with pyrimidine-derived NHC-ligands. The new complexes were fully characterized including X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis and characterization of (pyrazolylethylphosphinite)nickel(II) complexes and catalytic activity towards ethylene oligomerization

Compounds (2‐(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)ethyldiphenylphosphinite ( L1 ), 2‐(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)ethyldiphenylphosphinite ( L2 ) , and 2‐(3,5‐diphenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)ethyldiphenylphosphinite ( L3 ) were prepared using the synthetic routes reported in literature. These compounds were reacted with [NiCl₂(DME)₂] or [NiBr₂(DME)₂] under appropriate reaction conditions to afford six new nickel(II) compounds ([NiCl₂( L1)] ( 1 ), [NiCl₂( L2 )] ( 2 ), [NiCl₂( L3 )] ( 3 ), [NiBr₂( L1 )] ( 4 ), [NiBr₂( L2 )] ( 5 ) and [NiBr₂( L3 )] ( 6 )). The new nickel(II) pre‐catalysts catalyze the oligomerization of ethylene, in the presence of ethylaluminium dichloride as co‐catalyst, to produce butenes, hexenes, octenes and higher carbon chain ethylene oligomers with very little Friedel‐Crafts alkylation products when the reactions were run in toluene.     

Synthesis of nickel complexes with bidentate N,O-type ligands and application in the catalytic oligomerization of ethylene

The dinuclear complexes [Ni(micro-Cl){(4,5-dihydro-4,4-dimethyloxazol-2-yl)methanol}](2)Cl(2) and [Ni(micro-Cl){(pyridin-2-yl)methanol}](2)Cl(2) 16 have been synthesized in high yields by reaction of NiCl(2) with 2 mol. equiv. of the ligands 4,5-dihydro-4,4-dimethyloxazol-2-yl)methanol 13 or (pyridin-2-yl)methanol 15, respectively. The reaction of NiCl(2) with 3 mol. equiv. of 15 afforded in high yield the mononuclear, octahedral mer-[Ni{(pyridin-2-yl)methanol}(3)Cl(2)] complex 18. The reaction of 16 with NaH led to the deprotonation of one of the pyridine alcohol ligands to form [Ni{(pyridin-2-yl)methanol}{(pyridin-2-yl)methanolate}Cl] 21 in which the metal is coordinated by one pyridine alcohol and one pyridine alcoholate ligand. The crystal structures of the dinuclear, chloride-bridged octahedral complexes in 14.C(6)H(12) and in 16.3CH(2)Cl(2) and of the mononuclear, octahedral complex 18 in 18.CH(2)Cl(2) have been determined by X-ray diffraction. In the latter case, intermolecular OH...Cl bonding interactions generate a centrosymmetric pseudo-dimer. Complexes 14, 16, and 21 have been tested in ethylene oligomerization with AlEtCl(2) (Al/Ni ratios of 2, 4 or 6) or MAO (50, 100 or 200 equiv.) as co-catalysts under 10 bar of ethylene and yielded mostly dimers and trimers. Complex 16 in the presence of 6 equiv. of AlEtCl(2) proved to be the most active system with a turnover frequency (TOF) up to 187 500 C(2)H(4) (mol Ni h)(-1). Complex 16 with 200 equiv. of MAO was also the most active, with TOF up to 104 300 C(2)H(4) (mol Ni h)(-1) under 30 bar of ethylene.     

Bidentate iron complexes based on hyperbranched salicylaldimine ligands and their catalytic behavior toward ethylene oligomerization

A series of bidentate iron complexes based on hyperbranched salicylaldimine ligands were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO), the complexes showed good activities [up to 8.17 × 10⁴ g/(mol Fe h)] for ethylene oligomerization. Activation of the bidentate iron complex with a 1-octadecyl moiety in the ligand backbone (complex C3) with Et₂AlCl produced higher catalytic activity than C3 with MAO, although the selectivity for C₈₊ oligomers was lower. The choice of solvent and reaction parameters significantly affected both the activities and selectivities of these complexes. Under the conditions ([Fe] = 5 μmol; temperature = 25 °C; toluene = 50 mL; time = 30 min; ethylene pressure = 0.5 MPa; MAO as cocatalyst), complex C3 gave high activity [7.46 × 10⁴ g/(mol Fe h)] with better selectivity for C₈₊ oligomers (26.58%). The catalytic activities and selectivities were also influenced by the ligand structure and choice of metal. The catalytic activities declined with increasing alkyl chain length of the ligand backbone. Compared to the nickel complex with 1-tetradecyl as core in the ligand backbone (C4), the iron complexes exhibited lower catalytic activities but the better selectivities for C₁₀₊ oligomers.     

Dinuclear nickel complexes with bidentate N,O ligands: synthesis, structure, and catalytic oligomerization of ethylene

The new dicationic dinuclear complexes [Ni(micro-Cl)(2)(N,OH)(2)]Cl(2) (11, N,OH = 2-(4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydrooxazol-2-yl)-propan-2-ol; 12, N,OH = 2-pyridin-2-yl-propan-2-ol) were prepared in good yields and evaluated as precatalyts in the oligomerization of ethylene, using MAO or AlEtCl(2) as cocatalyst. These paramagnetic complexes were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction in the solid state and in solution with the help of the Evans method, which revealed agreement between the octahedral coordination spheres found in solution and in the solid state. The N donor atoms of each chelating ligand are in mutual cis position, and the OH donors are mutually trans situated. Selectivities for 1-butene within the C(4) fraction of 61% (11) and 58% (12) were observed in the presence of 200 equiv of MAO, but better turnover frequencies (28 300 (11) and 20 400 (12) mol of C(2)H(4)/(mol of Ni.h)) were obtained when 800 equiv of MAO was used. In the presence of 6 equiv of AlEtCl(2), the activities were considerably increased, up to 174 300 (11) and 97 100 (12) mol of C(2)H(4)/(mol of Ni.h), and the selectivity for C(4) olefins was 70% and 64%, respectively.     

First structurally characterized silver(I) derivatives with nonfluorinated beta-diketones

Synthetic, spectroscopic, and single-crystal X-ray structural studies of diverse complexes of silver(I) acylpyrazolonate salts AgQ(R') (QH = 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-R'(C=O)-pyrazol-5-one; Q(1), R = Ph; Q(2), R' = CF(3); Q(3), R' = Me) with neutral ligands L = unidentate PR(3) (R = Ph, o-tolyl, cyclohexyl) and Hmimt (1-methyl-2-mercaptoimidazole) and bidentate dppe (Ph(2)P(CH(2))(2)PPh(2)) and trimen (N,N,N'-trimethylethylenediamine) define the donor capability of the anionic Q(R') ligand in a variety of roles. In the free ligand Q(3)H (which crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c (no. 15), Z = 8, unit cell parameters a = 17.981(6) A, b = 5.0641(4) A, c = 24.271(6) A, and beta = 99.67(2)), the acidic OH group hydrogen-bonds intramolecularly to the adjacent pyrazolone oxygen, i.e., the two oxygen atoms are cis, true of the other Q(R') species structurally characterized here in their anionic complexed forms, in which they chelate the silver in the usual beta-diketonate manner, but not of the free anion, found in the array [Ag(Ph(3)P)(Hmimt)(2)](Q(1)) (triclinic space group P(-)1(no. 2), Z = 2, unit cell parameters a = 11.553(1) A, b = 11.943(1) A, c = 15.479(2) A, alpha = 74.829(2), beta = 76.094(2), and gamma = 78.185(2)), or [Ag(trimen)Q(1)] (monoclinic space group P2(1)/c (no. 14), Z = 4, unit cell parameters a = 7.982(1) A, b = 12.299(2) A, c = 21.507(3) A, and beta = 95.119(3)), which forms an infinite one-dimensional polymer string, Q(1) linking successive silver(I) atoms by coordination by way of the unsubstituted nitrogen and the pyrazolonate oxygen. In all [Ag(R(3)P)(2)(chelate-Q(1))] (R = Ph, Cy) complexes, P(2)Ag(O,O') arrays are found (R = Ph, monoclinic space group C2/c (no. 15), Z = 8, unit cell parameters a = 16.193(8) A, b = 13.859(7) A, c = 39.306(7) A, and beta = 100.02(3); R = Cy, triclinic space group P(-)1(no. 2), Z = 2, unit cell parameters a = 10.4655(9) A, b = 12.079(1) A, c = 22.804(2) A, alpha = 104.872(2), beta = 95.180(2), and gamma = 104.144(2)), also true of [Ag(Ph(3)P)(2)(O,O'-Q(2))] (triclinic space group P(-)1(no. 2), Z = 2, unit cell parameters a = 10.672(2) A, b = 10.710(2) A, c = 18.713(3) A, alpha = 87.573(2), beta = 80.972(2), and gamma = 81.734(2)), whereas [Ag(o-tol(3)P)Q(1)] (monoclinic space group P2(1)/c (no. 14), Z = 2 dimers, unit cell parameters a = 11.8221(6) A, b = 13.2601(6) A, c = 20.5141(10) A, and beta = 91.758(1)) exists as a dinuclear species containing two AgO(2)NP units where the acylpyrazolonate is coordinated in a bridging O,O'-Q-Nfashion. Silver atoms are four-coordinate in all except the Hmimt complex.     

Synthesis of short straight-chain alkylamine based hyperbranched nickel complexes and their catalytic performance of ethylene oligomerization

Short straight-chain alkylamine based hyperbranched molecules and their corresponding salicylaldimine nickel complexes have been synthesized in high yield and characterized by FTIR, ¹H-NMR and mass spectrometry. The optimal reaction parameters were determined under the catalytic system of methylaluminoxane (MAO) as co-catalyst and toluene as solvent. Under these conditions, the effect of catalyst structure, solvent and co-catalyst were determined. Upon activation of MAO in toluene, ethylene oligomerization products were homogeneous distribution of butene, hexene and octene with trace higher olefin. The same catalytic system under cyclohexane and methyl cyclohexane as solvent, however, produced majority of butene. Under the activation of EtAlCl₂, Et₂AlCl and EASC as co-catalyst in toluene, ethylene oligomerization reaction was tandem with Friedel-Crafts reaction in catalytic system.     

Nickel complexes with new bidentate P,N phosphinitooxazoline and -pyridine ligands: application for the catalytic oligomerization of ethylene

The phosphinitooxazoline 4,4-dimethyl-2-[1-oxy(diphenylphosphine)-1-methylethyl]-4,5-dihydrooxazole (9), the corresponding phosphinitopyridine ligands 2-ethyl-[1'-methyl-1'-oxy(diphenylphosphino)]pyridine (11) and 2-ethyl-6-methyl-[1'-methyl-1'-oxy(diphenylphosphino)]pyridine (12), which have a one-carbon spacer between the phosphinite oxygen and the heterocycle, and the homologous ligand 2-propyl-[2'-methyl-2'-oxy(diphenylphosphino)]pyridine (13), with a two-carbon spacer, were prepared in good yields. The corresponding mononuclear [NiCl(2)(P,N)] complexes 14 (P,N = 9), 15 (P,N = 11), and 16 (P,N = 12) and the dinuclear [NiCl(micro-Cl)(P,N)](2) 17 (P,N = 13) Ni(II) complex were evaluated in the catalytic oligomerization of ethylene. These four complexes were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction in the solid state and in solution with the help of the Evans method, which indicated differences between the coordination spheres in the solution and the solid state. In the presence of methylalumoxane (MAO) or AlEt(3), only the decomposition of the Ni complexes was observed. However, complexes 14-17 provided activities up to 50000 mol C(2)H(4)/(mol Ni).h (16 and 17) in the presence of only 6 equiv of AlEtCl(2). The observed selectivities for ethylene dimers were higher than 91% (for 14 or 15 in the presence of only 1.3 equiv of AlEtCl(2)). The activities for 14-17 were superior to that of [NiCl(2)(PCy(3))(2)], a typical dimerization catalyst taken as a reference. The selectivities of the complexes 14-17 for ethylene dimers and alpha-olefins were the same order of magnitude. From the study of the phosphinite 9/AlEtCl(2) system, we concluded that in our case ligand transfer from the nickel atom to the aluminum cocatalyst is unlikely to represent an activation mechanism.     

Nickel and iron complexes with N,P,N-type ligands: synthesis, structure and catalytic oligomerization of ethylene

The N,P,N-type ligands bis(2-picolyl)phenylphosphine (), bis(4,5-dihydro-2-oxazolylmethyl)phenylphosphine (), bis(4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolylmethyl)phenylphosphine () and bis(2-picolyloxy)phenylphosphine () were used to synthesize the corresponding pentacoordinated Ni(ii) complexes [Ni{bis(2-picolyl)phenylphosphine}Cl(2)] (), [Ni{bis(4,5-dihydro-2-oxazolylmethyl)phenylphosphine}Cl(2)] (), [Ni{bis(4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolylmethyl)phenylphosphine}Cl(2)] () and [Ni{bis(2-picolyloxy)phenylphosphine}Cl(2)] (), respectively. The hexacoordinated iron complexes [Fe{bis(2-picolyl)phenylphosphine}(2)][Cl(3)FeOFeCl(3)] (), [Fe{bis(4,5-dihydro-2-oxazolylmethyl)phenylphosphine}(2)][Cl(3)FeOFeCl(3)] () and the tetracoordinated complex [Fe{bis(4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazolylmethyl)phenylphosphine}Cl(2)] (abbreviated [FeCl(2)(NPN(Me2)-N,N)]) were prepared by reaction of FeCl(2).4H(2)O with ligands , respectively. The crystal structures of the octahedral complexes and , determined by X-ray diffraction, showed that two tridentate ligands are facially coordinated to the metal centre with a cis-arrangement of the P atoms and the dianion (mu-oxo)bis[trichloroferrate(iii)] compensates the doubly positive charge of the complex. The cyclic voltammograms of and showed two reversible redox couples attributed to the reduction of the dianion (Fe(2)OCl(6))(2-) (-0.24 V for and -0.20 V for vs. SCE) and to the oxidation of the Fe(ii) ion of the complex (0.67 V for and 0.52 V for vs. SCE). The cyclic voltammogram of [FeCl(2)(NPN(Me2)-N,N)] showed a reversible redox couple at -0.17 V vs. SCE assigned to the oxidation of the Fe(ii) atom and an irreversible process at 0.65 V. The complexes , and [FeCl(2)(NPN(Me2)-N,N)] have been evaluated in the catalytic oligomerization of ethylene with AlEtCl(2) or MAO as cocatalyst. The nickel complex proved to be the most active precatalyst in the series, with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 61 800 mol(C(2)H(4)) mol(Ni)(-1) h(-1) with 10 equiv. of AlEtCl(2) and 12 200 mol(C(2)H(4)) mol(Ni)(-1) h(-1) with 200 equiv. of MAO. Precatalysts and were the most selective in butenes, up to 90% with 6 equiv. of AlEtCl(2) and 89% with 2 equiv. of AlEtCl(2), respectively, and up to 92% butenes with 400 equiv. of MAO and 91% butenes with 200 equiv. MAO, respectively. The best selectivities for 1-butene were provided by and AlEtCl(2) (up to 31% with 6 equiv.) and with MAO (up to 72% with 200 equiv.). The iron complexes were not significantly active with AlEtCl(2) or MAO as cocatalyst.     

Dinuclear nickel and palladium complexes with bridging 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzoquinonediimines: synthesis, structures, and catalytic oligomerization of ethylene

Dinuclear, divalent acetylacetonato (acac) complexes of the type [M(acac){mu-C6H2(--NR)4}M(acac)] (M = Ni, Pd) have been prepared by the reaction of the corresponding bis(acac) metal precursor with 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzoquinonediimines C6H2(NHR)2(=NR)2 (4a, R = CH2-t-Bu; 4b, R = CH2Ph; 4c, R = Ph), which are metalated and become bridging ligands, also like in the complex [(C8H11)Pt{mu-C6H2(--NCH2-t-Bu)4}Pt(C8H11)] (6) obtained by the reaction of 4a with [PtCl2(COD)]. The complexes were fully characterized, including by X-ray diffraction for [Ni(acac){mu-C6H2(--NCH2Ph)4}Ni(acac)] (9b) and [Pd(acac){mu-C6H2(--NCH2-t-Bu)4}Pd(acac)] (10a). The coordination geometry around the metal ions is square-planar, and a complete electronic delocalization of the quinonoid pi system occurs between the metal centers over the two N--C--C--C--N halves of the ligand. The nature of the N substituent explains the differences between the supramolecular stacking arrangements found for [Ni(acac){mu-C6H2(--NR)4}Ni(acac)] (9a; R = CH2-t-Bu; 9b, R = CH2Ph). The Ni complexes were evaluated as catalyst precursors for ethylene oligomerization in the presence of AlEtCl(2) or MAO as the cocatalyst, in particular in order to study possible cooperative effects resulting from electronic communication between the metal centers and to examine the influence of the N substituent on the activity and selectivity. These catalysts afforded mostly ethylene dimers and trimers.     

A phosphino-oxazoline ligand as a P,N-bridge in palladium/cobalt or P,N-chelate in nickel complexes: catalytic ethylene oligomerization

The Pd(II) complex [PdCl(2)(1)] [1 = ({oxazolin-2-yl}methyl)diphenylphosphine] was obtained by the 1:1 reaction of 1 with [PdCl(2)(NCPh)(2)]. Although this neutral complex is stable in the solid-state and in solution, it reacts with the dinuclear complex [CoCl(2)(μ-1)](2) to afford the heterometallic zwitterionic complex [{PdCl(1)}(+)(μ-1)(CoCl(3))(-)] (2). Under inert atmosphere, two equivalents of 1 reacted with [NiCl(2)(dme)] to give trans-[NiCl(2)(1)(2)] (3) in CH(2)Cl(2) but cis-[NiCl(2)(1)(2)] (4) in CHCl(3). When the latter reaction was performed in air, trans-[NiCl(2)(5)(2)] (6) [5 = ({oxazolin-2-yl}methyl)diphenylphosphine oxide] was obtained. All metal complexes, 2, 3, 4 and 6, have been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction. Complexes 3, 4 and 6 have been evaluated as precatalysts for ethylene oligomerisation in the presence of AlEtCl(2) as cocatalyst. Complexes 3 and 6 yielded a turnover frequency (TOF) of 60,700 and 62,600 mol of C(2)H(4)/((mol of Ni)·h), respectively, in the presence of 10 equiv. of AlEtCl(2). In the presence of only 6 equiv. of cocatalyst, these Ni complexes yielded TOF values of 41,500 and 58,000 mol of C(2)H(4)/((mol of Ni)·h), respectively.