Synthesis and crystal structure of a phosphite nickel(II) 8-mercaptoquinoline complex

A monomeric trimethylphosphite nickel(II) complex of 8-mercaptoquinoline (H mtq), [Ni(mtq)P(OMe)(3)]Cl, was synthesised and characterised by X-crystall ography, FAB-MS and cyclic voltammogram measurements. The nickel(II) atom i s co-ordinated via the S and N atoms of the mtq- entity, one P(OMe)(3) liga nd and one Cl- anion in a square-planar geometry. Two types of main fragmen t ions were observed in the FAB mass spectrum of the title complex: Cl- fol lowed by P(OMe)(3). The electrochemical behaviour of the title complex in M eCN solution with n-Bu4NBF4 (0.1mol L-1) as electrolyte on the Pt electrode indicates that the reversible redox reaction [Ni(mtq)P(OMe)(3)](+) + e dou ble left right arrow [Ni(mtq)P(OMe)](0) has occured in MeCN.