New tetra- and pentacoordinate nickel(I) complexes

Summary The reduction of nickel(II) halides with NaBH₄ in ethanol has been studied in the presence of various tertiary phosphines and arsines. Complexes of the type XNiL₃ have been isolated in this way when X = Cl, Br, I and L = PPh₃, AsPh₃, no reaction being observed when L = PEt₃, PBu₃ and Ph₂P(CH₂)₂PPh₂.The reaction of XNiL₃ with CO gas at room temperature produces pentacoordinate carbonyl complexes XNi(CO)₂L₂ when L is triphenylphosphine. The lack of stability prevents the isolation of similar complexes when L is trip henylarsine.Structural data obtained by i.r. spectroscopy and susceptibility measurements as well as chemical behaviour of the new complexes are described.