NICKEL(2) COMPLEXES OF 3-ALKYLACETYLACETONES

Nickel(II) complexes have been prepared from 3-alkylacetylacetones, LH = CH3COCHRCOCH3 (R = Me, Et, Bu, and CH2Ph). The anhydrous complexes, NiL2, are red and diamagnetic in the solid state and dissolve in toluene to give equilibrium mixtures of monomeric, low-spin and trimeric, high-spin species. Equilibrium constants have been obtained for the low-spin-high-spin equilibrium when R = Et or CH2Ph. Reaction with pyridine in toluene solution gives the adducts NiL2 py2, probably with Ni2L4 py as an intermediate. The relative stabilities of the low-spin and high-spin forms of NiL2 are shown to depend not only on steric factors, but also on electronic factors related to the acid dissociation constants of the ligands, LH. © 1968 CSIRO. All rights reserved.