Side-on coordination of a P-P bond in heterobinuclear tetraphosphorus complexes with a [Si(mu,eta(2:2)-P(4))Ni] core and nickel(I) centers.

The synthesis and characterization of the first heterobinuclear tetraphosphorus complexes 3a and 3b with a [Si(mu,eta(2:2)-P(4))Ni] core are reported. The latter result from conversion of the silylene-activated P(4) ligand LSiP(4) (1; L = CH[(C horizontal lineCH(2))CMe][N(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3))](2)) with the beta-diketiminatonickel(I) complexes [(L'Ni)(2).toluene] (L' = CH[CMeN(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3))](2)) and [(L''Ni)(2).toluene] (L'' = CH[CMeN(2,6-Et(2)C(6)H(3))](2)), respectively. Unexpectedly, the complexes 3a and 3b feature a [Si(mu,eta(2:2)-P(4))Ni] core with nickel(I) centers as shown by X-ray diffraction analysis, electron paramagnetic resonance, and magnetic measurements. The latter prove that the products are paramagnetic both in the solid state and in solution because of the presence of tetrahedral nickel(I) sites.