Phosphino-indenyl complexes of nickel(II)

The BH3-protected phosphinoindenyl ligand indenyl(CH2)(2)PPh2 center dot BH3 was used in the preparation of (eta(5/3):eta(0)-indenyl(CH2)(2)PPh2 center dot BH3)Ni(PPh3)Cl, which has been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies. On the other hand, all attempts at preparing the closely related complex (eta(5/3):eta(1)-indenyl(CH2)(2)PPh2)NiCl, in which the tethered phosphine moiety is coordinated to the Ni centre, were unsuccessful. One of these unsuccessful attempts yielded instead the novel indenyl-PCP pincer complex {kappa(P),kappa(C),kappa(P)-1,3-(CH2CH2PPh2)(2)-2-indenyl}NiCl, which has been characterized by X-ray diffraction studies.