Synthesis, characterisation and crystal structure of a novel nickel(II) phosphine complex, trans-[Ni2Cl4{cis-(Cy2PCH2)2C6H4}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)2C6H4}2]. The compound was characterised by 1H, 31P and 13C 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.