Electrochemical synthesis of nickel(II) complexes of tosylamides: crystal structures of [(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-imino-1H-pyridine], 2,2 '-bipyridine bis{[(4-methylphenyl) sulfonyl]-2-pyridyl-amide}nickel(II) and 1,10-phenanthroline bis{[(4-methylphenyl) sulfonyl]-2-pyridyl-amide}nickel(II)

The complex [NiL2] has been synthesised by the electrochemical oxidation of nickel in an acetonitrile solution of [(4methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-imino-1H-p yridine (HL). When the oxidation was carried out in the presence of neutral ligands L' (pyridine, 2,2'-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline) the complexe s [NiL(2)py(2)], [NiL(2)bipy] and [NiL(2)phen] were obtained. The crystal s tructures of [(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-imino-1H-pyridine, 2,2'-bipyridine bis{[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-2-pyridyl-amide}nickel(II) and 1,10-phenanth roline bis{[(4-methylphenyl) sulfonyl]-2-pyridyl-amide}nickel(II) were dete rmined by X-ray diffraction methods. In the monomeric complexes, the nickel atom is in a distorted octahedral environment defined by the amide and pyr idyl nitrogen atoms of the two ligands and the two bipyridine or phenanthro line nitrogen atoms. The vibrational and electronic spectra of the complexe s are discussed and are shown to agree with the structures. (C) 1999 Elsevi er Science Ltd. All rights reserved.