Synthesis, characterisation and crystal structure of a novel nickel(II) phosphine complex, trans-[Ni2Cl4{cis-(Cy2PCH2)(2)C6H4}(2)]

The reaction of 1,3-C6H4(CH2PCy2)(2) with anhydrous nickel(II) chloride in dry THF produces the non-cyclometallated dinuclear complex trans-[Ni2Cl4{cis-(Cy2PCH2)(2)C6H4}(2)]. The compound was characterised by H-1, P-31 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy and its solid state structure was determined by X-ray diffraction. An improved synthetic procedure of the aromatic pincer ligand 1,3-C6H4(CH2PCy2)(2) is reported. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.