Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of [Li(C4H8O)4][Ni(2,4,6-Me3C 6H2)3]

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0277-5387(96)00056-3

The tetrahydrofuran-solvated lithium salt of the ato anion [Ni(mes)₃]^- (mes = mesityl, 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂) was obtained as a crystalline solid from the interaction of NiCl₂(dme), (dme = 2,2′-dimethoxyethane) and mesityl lithium in Et₂O-C₄H₈O. The blue compound 1 is unstable above ca - 10°C and the X-ray crystal structure was determined at low temperature. The metal centre was found to exhibit an unusual T-shaped coordination geometry, which can be explained in terms of CH₃ ... Ni agostic interactions at the fourth site of a formally square-planar Ni^II centre. Reactions of 1 with donor ligands produced Ni(2,6-Me₂C₆H₃NC)₄, Ni(Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂)₂ and Ni(mes)₂(Me₂NCH₂CH₂NMe₂). Crown copyright