The reaction of Nil, with a tripodal hexadentate ligand (H3L = 1,1,1-tris(N
-salicylideneaminomethyl)ethane) afforded the O-H . . .O bridged dinuclear
[Ni-2(HL)(2)] complex. When Ni2+ was allowed to react with H3L in the prese
nce of triethylamine (3 : 2 : 6), the linear trinuclear [Ni-3(L)(2)] comple
x formed, where the central nickel(II) ion is bridged by six phenolate oxyg
en atoms to the terminal nickel(II) ions.