Synthesis, structure and properties of ruthenium(II) complexes with quinolinedione derivatives as chelate ligands: Crystal structure of [Ru(CO)2Cl2(6-methoxybenzo[g]quinoline-5,10-dione)]

The reaction of the dimer complex [{Ru(CO)₃Cl₂}₂] with the ligands 4,6-dichloroquinoline-5,8-dione and 6-methoxybenzo[g]quinoline-5,10-dione in ethanol solution led to the neutral mononuclear complexes of general formula [Ru(CO)₂Cl₂(κ²-quinolinedione-N,O)]. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and RMN spectroscopy, and the molecular structure of [Ru(CO)₂Cl₂(6-methoxybenzo[g]quinoline-5,10-dione)] was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The redox chemistry of ligands and complexes was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, and their potential antitumor activity was also evaluated.     

Organonickel chemistry in the catalytic hydrodechlorination of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs): ligand steric effects and molecular structure of reaction intermediates

Soluble homogeneous organophosphorus—nickel complexes have been used to detoxify polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by catalyzed hydrodechlorination using NaBH₂(OCH₂CH₂OCH₃)₂ as the hydrogen source. The reactions appear to proceed by NiL₃ oxidative addition into C---Cl bonds followed by hydrogenolysis of the metal---carbon bond. In model experiments with decachlorobiphenyl, the cone angle of the organophosphorus ligand L was shown to be a key factor controlling the magnitude and position of chlorine displacement. Hence, ligands leading to para displacement (e.g. (o-MeC₆H₄O)₃P), meta—para displacement (e.g. (EtO)₃P and (PhO)₃P), and ortho—meta—para displacement (e.g. Me₃P and Et₃P) were found. Significantly, the highly toxic, coplanar dioxin precursor 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl, a meta—para chlorine-substituted congener, was dechlorinated quantitatively with the Et₃P catalyst system. Evidence for the presence of organonickel intermediates in the reaction mixtures was obtained by mass spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction studies. Of particular interest is the isolation of square planar complexes p-C₆Cl₅C₆Cl₄Ni(PEt₃)₂Cl from the reaction of decachlorobiphenyl with NaBH₂(OCH₂CH₂OCH₃)₂—(Et₃P)₂NiCl₂ as the catalyst precursor and m-C₆Cl₅C₆Cl₄Ni(PEt₃)₂Cl from decachlorobiphenyl—Ni(1,5-C₈H₁₂)₂—PEt₃ at room temperature. All are oxidative addition intermediates and precursors for decachlorobiphenyl hydrodechlorination.     

Optically active transition metal compounds : LXXXI. Crystal structure of (+)546-[C5H5Mo(CO)2LL]PF (LL = 2-benzoylpyridine-(R)-1-phenylethylimine)

Racemic [C₅H₅Mo(CO)₂LL]PF₆, (2) with LL = 2-benzoylpyridine-1-phenylethylimine, undergoes spontaneous resolution upon crystallization from acetone/CH₂Cl₂/ethanol. The absolute configuration of the (+)₅₄₆-isomer was shown to be (R) at the Mo atom and (R) at the asymmetric carbon atom. Comparison of 2 with [C₅H₅Mo(CO)₂LL]PF₆ (1) (LL = 2-carbaldehydepyridine-1-phenylethylimine) reveals distinct changes caused by the differences resulting from the presence of the phenyl group in 2 and the change from the (RR)- to the (RS)-configuration.     

双二苯基-1-甲基咪唑膦氯化镍的制备及其电催化还原CO2的研究

以二苯基-1-甲基咪唑膦（dpim）为配体制备了一种新型的配合物催化剂Ni(dpim)₂Cl₂. 循环伏安研究表明,Ni(dpim)₂Cl₂配合物在氮气气氛下表现出两步还原的电化学行为,在-0.7 V下为两电子的不可逆还原,在-1.3 V下为单电子准可逆还原. 向电解液中通入CO₂后,在-1.3 V下的还原峰变得不可逆,且其峰电流从0.48 mA·cm^-2增大到0.55 mA·cm^-2. 在质子源（CH₃OH）存在的条件下,该还原峰电流可继续增大到0.72 mA·cm^-2. 该研究结果表明,Ni(dpim)₂Cl₂配合物对CO₂还原具有良好的电催化性能,且其电催化还原过程符合ECE机理. 在-1.3 V下恒电位电解得到的还原产物主要为CO,催化转换频率（Turnover of Frenquency, TOF）为0.17 s^-1.     

Preparation and structure of a ruthenium dicarbonyl derivative of the P2N4S2 ring

The reaction of Ru(CO)₄(C₂H₄) or Ru(CO)₅ with 1,5-Ph₄P₂N₄S₂ in CH₂Cl₂/hexane at 23°C produces the dimer [Ru(CO)₂(Ph₄ P₂N₄S₂)]₂ (2), which was shown by X-ray crystallography to have a centrosymmetric structure in which the P₂N₄S₂ ring is attached to one ruthenium atom through two (geminal) nitrogen atoms and the remote sulfur atom and serves as a bridge to the other ruthenium atom via the second sulfur atom. Crystals of 2 ·2(CH₂Cl₂) are triclinic, space group P (No. 2), a = 12.901(1) Å, b = 13.072(1) Å, c = 10.123(1) Å, = 100.88(1)°, β = 98.90(1)°, γ = 67.50(1)°, V = 1542.4(3) Å, Z = 1 with final R and R_w values of 0.040 and 0.027, respectively.     

Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of tetracyclopentadienylniobium(IV), a precursor to organometallic derivatives of niobium(IV)

In toluene as medium, tetra(cyclopentadienyl)niobium(IV), NbCp₄, has been prepared in satisfactory yields from the reaction of NaCp with: (a) Nb₂C1₁₀, (b) NbCl₄(THF)₂, or (c) NbCp₂Cl₂. Tetracyclopentadienylniobium(IV) has been characterized by X-ray diffraction. Crystal data: C₂₀H₂₀Nb, M=353.29 g mol⁻¹, hexagonal, space group P6₅ (no. 170), a=b=9.396(2), c=31.23(3) Å, V=2388(2) ų, Z=6, d_calc=1.48 g cm⁻³, λ(Cu–K)=1.54184 Å, T=291 K, μ=62.04 cm⁻¹, F(000)=1686. Two of the four cyclopentadienyl ligands are bonded to niobium in a pentahapto fashion, the other two being monohapto. NbCp₄ undergoes cyclopentadiene elimination in the presence of species containing active protons such as Ph₃SiOH or strong acids, the products being tris- or biscyclopentadienyl compounds depending on the molar ratio of the reagents.     

Interaction of antitumor drug Sn(CH3)2Cl2 with DNA and RNA

Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ exerts its antitumor activity in a specific way. Unlike anticancer cis-Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂ drug which binds strongly to the nitrogen atoms of DNA bases, Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ shows no major affinity towards base binding. Thus, the mechanism of action by which tinorganometallic compounds exert antitumor activity would be different from that of the cisplatin drug. The aim of this study was to examine the binding of Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ with calf thymus DNA and yeast RNA in aqueous solutions at pH 7.1–6.6 with constant concentrations of DNA and RNA and various molar ratios of Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂/DNA (phosphate) and Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂/RNA of 1/40, 1/20, 1/10, 1/5. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV–visible difference spectroscopic methods were used to determine the Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ binding mode, binding constant, sequence selectivity and structural variations of Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂/DNA and Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂/RNA complexes in aqueous solution. Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ hydrolyzes in water to give Sn(CH₃)₂(OH)₂ and [Sn(CH₃)₂(OH)(H₂O)_n]⁺ species. Spectroscopic evidence showed that interaction occurred mainly through (CH₃)₂Sn(IV) hydroxide and polynucleotide backbone phosphate group with overall binding constant of K(Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂–DNA)=1.47×10⁵ M⁻¹ and K(Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂–RNA)=7.33×10⁵ M⁻¹. Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ induced no biopolymer conformational changes with DNA remaining in the B-family structure and RNA in A-conformation upon drug complexation.     

Synthesis of homoleptic Re(I) complexes of isocyano-carboranes and the X-ray structure of hexakis(p-carboran-1-yl-isonitrile)Re(I)

Two homoleptic Re(I) complexes of ortho and para-carborane isocyanide ligands were prepared as the first examples of a new class of metal-based BNCT and BNCS agents. The target compounds were prepared in low yield through the reaction of [Re₂(O₂CPh)₄Cl₂] and [Re₂(OAc)₄Cl₂] with 3-isocyano-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane and a para-carborane azetidine derivative respectively. The desired product from the latter reaction was characterized crystallographically and is only the second reported molecular structure of a homoleptic Re(I) isonitrile complex.     

Palladium(II) coordination and cyclometallated complexes derived from 1-tert-butylpyrazole

The synthesis and characterization of a number of new coordination compounds of Pd^II with the nitrogen donor 1-tert-butylpyrazole (^tBuPzH) are described. Compounds are trans-[Pd(^tBuPzH)₂Cl₂] and the cyclometallated structures [Pd₂(^tBuPz)₂(AcO)₂] and [Pd₃(^tBuPz)₂(AcO)₄]. All these complexes are mixtures of syn and anti isomers. Also, the chloro-bridged complex [Pd₂(^tBuPz)₂Cl₂] has been isolated as an equilibrium mixture of cis and trans isomers. The compounds have been studied by variable temperature ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy.     

Sterically demanding cyclopentadienyl chemistry: synthesis of iron and zirconium complexes of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindenyl

Reaction of phenyl magnesium bromide with the ,β-unsaturated ketone 3-methyl-2,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydroind-8(9)-en-1-one, followed by an aqueous work-up, generates the pro-chiral tetra-substituted cyclopentadiene, 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindene, Cp^‡H, a precursor to the η⁵-cyclopentadienyl ligand in (Cp^‡)₂Fe and [(Cp^‡)Fe(CO)]₂(μ-CO)₂. Both complexes were generated as mixtures of rac-(RR and SS)- and meso-(RS)-isomers, and in either case pure meso-isomer was isolated by crystallisation and characterised by single crystal X-ray structure, both molecules having crystallographic C_i symmetry. Reduction with Na/Hg cleaves meso-(RS)-[(Cp^‡)Fe(CO)]₂(μ-CO)₂ and the resulting mixture of (R)- and (S)-[(Cp^‡)Fe(CO)₂]⁻ anions reacts with MeI to give racemic (Cp^‡)Fe(CO)₂Me, which was characterised by the X-ray crystal structure. The Cp^‡ ligand is more electron donating than (η-C₅H₅) as revealed by the reduction potential of the (Cp^‡)₂Fe⁺/(Cp^‡)₂Fe couple, E°=−0.127 V (vs. Ag  AgCl). Reaction of LiCp^‡ with ZrCl₄ yields the zirconocene dichloride [Zr(Cp^‡)₂Cl₂] as mixture of rac- and meso-isomers, from which pure rac-isomer is obtained as a mixture of RR and SS crystals by recrystallisation. The reaction of rac-[Zr(Cp^‡)₂Cl₂] with LiMe gives rac-[Zr(Cp^‡)₂Me₂]. The structures of RR-[Zr(Cp^‡)₂Cl₂] and rac-[Zr(Cp^‡)₂Me₂] have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The structural studies reveal the influence of the bulky substituted cyclopentadienyl ligand on the metal---Cp^‡ distances and other metric parameters.     

The crystal structure of (η-C6Me6)Ti[(μ-Cl)2(AlClEt)]2 and the catalytic activity of the (C6Me6)TiAl2Cl8−xEtx(x = 0---4) complexes towards butadiene

The composition of (C₆Me₆)TiAl₂Cl_8−xEt_x complexes in (C₆Me₆)TiAl₂Cl₈ + n Et₃Al (n = 0.5-6) systems was studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy and the X-ray crystal structure of one of them, (η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ti[(μ-Cl)₂(AlClEt)]₂ (IIa-2), has been determined. The complex crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pna2₁ with Z = 4 and lattice parameters a 15.634(3), b 11.355(2), c 14.417(2) Å. The ethyl groups of IIa-2 reside in outer positions of aluminate ligands farther away from the C₆Me₆ ligand. The other part of the complex does not differ remarkably from structures of other (arene)Ti^II complexes. Negligible activity of (C₆Me₆)TiAl₂Cl₈ towards the butadiene cyclotrimerization is considerably increased by addition of 2.5–3.0 equivalents of Et₃Al. As follows from UV-Vis spectra, such systems contain mainly the (C₆Me₆)TiAl₂Cl₅Et₃ complex. It is suggested that the introduction of three Et substituents destabilizes the Ti-(η⁶-C₆Me₆) bond so that the replacement of hexamethylbenzene by butadiene in the first step of a catalytic cycle becomes more feasible.     

RbPb2Cl5的合成及光学性质

采用机械研磨的方法, 通过控制反应前驱体的摩尔比, 研究了不同球磨时间对形成RbPb₂Cl₅晶体的影响. X射线衍射结果表明, 经过1 h的研磨可制备纯相RbPb₂Cl₅晶体粉末, 其结构为通过边共享相连接的 [Pb-Cl₇]十面体, 归属于单斜晶系P2₁/c空间点群. RbPb₂Cl₅晶体在紫外区有明显的吸收, 其带边吸收值为 3.82 eV. 在光激发条件下, 该晶体显示激发波长依赖的540 nm黄绿光和635 nm橙光的双波长荧光. 变温光谱、 时间分辨光谱和发射峰强度与能量密度依赖的线性关系研究表明, 其发光机制应该归结于材料具有两种不同的自陷激子态, 从而产生了与激发波长相关的双通道发射.     

Molybdenum-molybdenum quadruple bonds: An asymmetrically substituted dimer containing a single acetate bridge. Crystal and molecular structure of [Mo2Cl3(μ-OAc)(PMe3)3]·PhMe

[Mo₂(OAc)₄] reacts with three or more equivalents of lithium chloride and PMe₃ in thf to give [Mo₂Cl₃(μ-OAc)(PMe₃)₃]0.75thf (1). The IR spectrum of the complex shows Mo---O and Mo---Cl stretches at 350 and 300 cm⁻¹ respectively and the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra suggest several species are present in solution. [Mo₂Cl₃(μ-OAc)(PMe₃)₃] converts slowly in thf to [Mo₂Cl₄(PMe₃)₄] and [Mo₂(OAc)₄]. The structure of [Mo₂Cl₃(μ-OAc) (PMe₃)₃]0.5C₆H₅Me (2) has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. Crystals of the toluene solvate are tetragonal with a = 20.726(2), c = 11.776(2) Å, space GROUP = I4cm. The structure was solved by Patterson and Fourier methods and refined to R of 0.035 for the 539 observed data. The molecule contains two metal centres each of which shows 5-fold coordination. The two molybdenum atoms are linked by an acetate bridge and a short Mo---Mo bond of 2.121(3) Å. Remaining coordination sites are occupied on Mo(1) by two Cl and one PMe₃ and on Mo(2) by one Cl and two PMe₃ groups.     

Phenylbis(2- pyridyl)phosphine: P- vs. N,N′-coordination in carbonylmolybdenum-(O) and -(II) complexes

The first carbonyl molybdenum-(O) and -(II) complexes with phenylbis(2-pyridyl)phosphine (PPhpy₂) have been synthesized. PPhpy₂ reacts with [Mo(CO)₅(NCMe)] to give [Mo(CO)₅(PPhpy₂-P)]. With [Mo(CO)₄(NBD)] (NBD = norbornadiene) it gives [Mo(CO)₄(PPhpy₂-P)₂] when a 2 : 1 ratio is used, or [MO(CO)₄(py₂PhP---N,N′)] for a 1 : 1 ratio. Decarbonylation of any of these pyridylphosphine complexes leads to an oligomer of formula {MO(CO)₃(μ-PPhpy₂)}_n, which is also obtained after heating [MO(CO)₆] in solution with an equimolar amount of PPhpy₂. The oligomer undergoes oxidative addition by iodine or allylbromide to give [MoI₂(CO)₃(py₂PhP---N,N′)], or [MoBr(η³-CH₂CHCH₂)(CO)₂(py₂PhP---N,N′)], respectively. These complexes are also obtained by addition of equimolar amounts of PPhpy₂ to solutions of [MoI₂(CO)₃(NCMe)₂] and MoBr(η³-CH₂CH CH₂)(CO)₂(NCMe)₂, respectively. The ligand tends to act as a P-donor towards molybdenum(O) substrates, and as a chelating N,N′-donor in molybdenum (II) complexes.     

新型双苯并环己酮芳亚胺镍(Ⅱ)催化降冰片烯与甲基丙烯酸丁酯共聚合

采用自制的新型双苯并环己酮芳亚胺镍催化剂双苯并环己酮-2,6-二甲基苯亚胺镍(Ⅱ)(Ni{C₁₀H₈(O)C[2,6-C₆H₃(CH₃)₂N]CH₃}₂, C1)和双苯并环己酮-2,6-二氯苯亚胺镍(Ⅱ)(Ni{C₁₀H₈(O)C[2,6-C₆H₃Cl₂N]CH₃}₂, C2)与三五氟苯硼[B(C₆F₅)₃]结合, 在一定的反应条件下可高效催化降冰片烯(NB)与甲基丙烯酸正丁酯(n-BMA)的乙烯基加成共聚合. 提出了催化聚合时存在的可能失活机理; 研究了不同单体投料比对催化活性、 产率及产物性能的影响. 根据Kelen-Tüdõs方法分别估算出2种单体在不同催化体系下的竞聚率, 即当催化体系为C1/B(C₆F₅)₃时, 竞聚率r_n-BMA=0.02, r_NB=16.28, r_NB·r_n-BMA=0.32; 当催化体系为C2/B(C₆F₅)₃时, r_n-BMA=0.01, r_NB=64.83, r_NB·r_n-BMA=0.65. 结果表明, 2种单体在2种体系催化下均为无规共聚合.     

Synthesis and application of diphenylbis (3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane to form η-arene complexes of molybdenum

The neutral nitrogen-bidentate ligand, diphenylbis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane, Ph₂CPz′₂, can readily be obtained by the reaction of Ph₂CCl₂ with excess HPz′ in a mixed-solvent system of toluene and triethylamine. It reacts with [Mo(CO)₆] in 1,2-dimethoxyethane to give the η²-arene complex, [Mo(Ph₂CPz′₂)(CO)₃] (1). This η²-ligation appears to stabilize the coordination of Ph₂CPz′ ₂ in forming [Mo(Ph₂CPz′₂)(CO)₂(N₂C₆H₄NO₂-p)][BPh₄] (2) and [Mo(Ph₂CPz′₂)(CO)₂(N₂Ph)] [BF₄] (3) from the reaction of 1 with the appropriate diazonium salt but the stabilization seems not strong enough when [Mo{P(OMe)₃} ₃(CO)₃] is formed from the reaction of 1 with P(OMe)₃. The solid-state structures of 1 and 3 have been determined by X-ray crystallography: 1-CH₂Cl₂, monoclinic, P2₁/n, a = 11.814(3), b = 11.7929(12), c = 19.46 0(6) Å, β = 95.605(24)°, V = 2698.2(11) ų, Z = 4, D_calc = 1.530 g/cm³ , R = 0.044, R_w = 0.036 based on 3218 reflections with I > 2σ(I); 2 (3)-1/2 hexane-1/2 CH₃OH-1/2 H₂O-1 CH₂Cl₂, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 41.766(10), b = 20.518(4), c = 16.784(3) Å, β = 101.871(18)°, V = 14076(5) ų, Z = 8, D_calc = 1.457 g/cm³, R = 0.064, R_w = 0.059 based on 5865 reflections with I > 2σ(I). Two independent cations were found in the asymmetric unit of the crystals of 3. The average distance between the Mo and the two η²-ligated carbon atoms is 2.574 Å in 1 and 2.581 and 2.608 Å in 3. The unfavourable disposition of the η²-phenyl group with respect to the metal centre in 3 and the rigidity of the η²-arene ligation excludes the possibility of any appreciable agostic C---H → Mo interaction.     

Metal–metal bonding in metal–string complexes M3(dpa)4X2 (M = Ni, Co, dpa = di(2-pyridyl)amido, and X = Cl, NCS) from resonance Raman and infrared spectroscopy

Infrared and Raman spectra for metal–string complexes M₃(dpa)₄X₂ (M = Ni, Co, dpa = di(2-pyridyl)amido, and X = Cl, NCS) are studied. We assign the Ni₃ asymmetric stretching vibration to infrared lines at 304 and 311 cm⁻¹ for Ni₃(dpa)₂Cl₂ and Ni₃(dpa)₂(NCS)₂, respectively. A Raman shift at 242 cm⁻¹ is assigned to the Ni₃ symmetric stretching mode. For Co₃ complexes a line for the Co₃ asymmetric stretching mode appears at 313 and 331 cm⁻¹ for Co₃(dpa)₂Cl₂ and Co₃(dpa)₂(NCS)₂, respectively.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of two novel nickel (imidazole) complexes having hydrogen-bonded networks

Two nickel (imidazole) complexes, Ni(im)₆Cl₂·4H₂O (1) and Ni(im)₆(NO₃)₂ (2) (im=imidazole) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV, TG and single crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 with a=8.800(6) Å, b=9.081(6) Å, c=10.565(7) Å, =75.058(9)°, β=83.143(8)°, γ=61.722(8)°, V=718.3(8) Å³, Z=1 and R₁ (wR₂)=0.0469 (0.1497). 2 crystallizes in the trigonal space group R-3 with a=12.370(6) Å, b=12.370(6) Å, c=14.782(14) Å, =90.00°, β=90.00°, γ=120.00°, V=1959(2) Å³, Z=3 and R₁ (wR₂)=0.0358 (0.0955). 1 and 2 exhibit different supramolecular network due to their different counter anions and different hydrogen bonding connection. In compound 1, [Ni(im)₆]²⁺ cation and counter anions Cl⁻ alternatively array in an ABAB fashion via N–HCl hydrogen bonding. In compound 2, the plane of each NO₃²⁻ is almost parallel and each NO₃²⁻ connect three different [Ni(im)₆]²⁺ cations via N–HO hydrogen bonding.     

改性SiO2载体对邻菲咯啉钌荧光特性及氧敏感荧光膜性能的影响

为提高极性荧光指示剂Ru(dpp)₃Cl₂在非极性硅橡胶中的分散性,以沉淀白炭黑、气相白炭黑和甲基MQ树脂,载负荧光指示剂Ru(dpp)₃Cl₂,再填充到二甲基硅橡胶(PDMS)中,制备氧敏感荧光膜.以分光光度计和荧光光谱仪,研究载体种类对Ru(dpp)₃Cl₂的吸附性、荧光特性及氧敏感荧光膜性能的影响.白炭黑载负Ru(dpp)₃Cl₂的荧光发射光谱相对其稀溶液约红移20 nm.载体表面的甲基可减弱SiO₂载体对Ru(dpp)₃Cl₂分子的吸附性和相互作用,减少荧光发射光谱的红移12 nm,提高荧光强度近10倍.白炭黑有助改善Ru(dpp)₃Cl₂在PDMS中的分散性和氧敏感荧光膜的荧光输出和猝灭比,尤以MQ树脂的效果最为显著.     

Coordination geometry of tetradentate Schiff’s base nickel complexes: the effects of donors, backbone length and hydrogenation

The X-ray crystal structures of (N,N′-bis-(o-amidobenzilidene)-1,3-diaminopropane)nickel (Niambpr), (N,N′-bis-(o-amidobenzilidene)-1,4-diaminobutane)nickel (Niambut), (N,N′-bis-(o-thiobenzilidene)-1,4-diaminobutane)nickel(II) (Nitsalbut), bis-acetonitrile-(N,N′-bis-(o-aminobenzyl)-1,2-diaminoethane) nickel(II) tetrafluoroborate [Ni(H₄amben)(MeCN)₂] [BF₄]₂, bis-O-acetato-(N,N′-bis-(o-aminobenzyl)-1,2-diaminoethane) nickel(II) [Ni(H₄amben)(OAc)₂ · H₂O] and bis-O-acetato-(N,N′-bis-(o-aminobenzyl)-1,3-diaminopropane) nickel(II) [Ni(H₄ambpr)(OAc)₂] are presented. These structures complete the structural characterisation of the simple unsubstituted Schiff’s base complexes with N₄ and N₂S₂ donor sets and allow us to assess the effects of donor groups and polymethylene chain length on the coordination geometries of nickel(II). The hydrogenated N₄ complexes offer an insight into the effects of increased flexibility and character of the internal nitrogen donors. Unlike the parent N₄ imine species the hydrogenated amine species do not deprotonate at the peripheral nitrogen donors and do not seem to be restricted to the meridial plane of the nickel.