Unprecedented tetranuclear complexes with 20-electron NiII centers: The role of pressure and temperature on their solid-state and solution fragmentation

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/anie.200701483

Complexes under pressure! The complexes [{NiCl₂(PN)} ₄] (PN = 2-diphenylphosphinomethyl-2-oxazoline or -2-thiazoline; see picture; Ni green, Cl pink, P orange, S yellow, N blue, C gray) have an unprecedented, centrosymmetric Ni₄Cl₈ core with 20-electron metal centers and undergo pressure-induced fragmentation into the mononuclear, square-planar 16-electron complexes [NiCl₂(PN)], which are in equilibrium with the respective tetramer in solution. (Figure Presented).