Trimethylsilylated Allyl Complexes of Nickel. The Stabilized Bis(π-allyl)nickel Complex [η<sup>3</sup>-1,3-(SiMe<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>3</sub>]<sub>2</sub>Ni and Its Mono(π-allyl)NiX (X = Br, I) Derivatives QuisenberryKeith T. SmithJ. Dominic VoehlerMarkus StecDonald F. HanusaTimothy P. BrennesselWilliam W. 2005 Reaction of 2 equiv of K[1,3-(SiMe<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>3</sub>] with NiBr<sub>2</sub>(dme) in THF at −78 °C produces the orange π-allyl complex [1,3-(SiMe<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>3</sub>]<sub>2</sub>Ni (<b>1</b>). Unlike the pyrophoric (C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>5</sub>)<sub>2</sub>Ni, the trimethylsilylated derivative only slowly decomposes in air (from hours to days). Both eclipsed (<b>1a</b>) and staggered (<b>1b</b>) conformations are found in solution; the eclipsed form irreversibly converts to the thermodynamically more stable staggered conformation when heated above 85 °C. Single-crystal X-ray structures obtained for both <b>1a</b> and <b>1b</b> confirm that the allyl ligands are bound in a <i>trihapto</i> manner to the metals and that trimethylsilyl substituents are in syn, anti arrangements. Density functional theory calculations performed on the bis(allyl)nickel complexes indicate that the substituents exert little effect on the basic metal−ligand geometries. Trimethylphosphine is converted to tetramethyltetraphosphane, (MeP)<sub>4</sub>, on reaction with <b>1</b>. In toluene, 3-bromo-1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)propene reacts with (COD)<sub>2</sub>Ni to produce the dimeric purple complex {[1,3-(SiMe<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>3</sub>]NiBr}<sub>2</sub> (<b>2a</b>). Both NMR and X-ray crystallographic data establish that the allyl ligands are staggered and that the trimethylsilyl substituents are in a syn, syn conformation. NMR data indicate that the reaction of one equivalent of <b>1</b> with Br<sub>2</sub> in benzene produces an analogous complex (<b>2b</b>) with the allyl ligand substituents in a syn, anti configuration. When 1 equiv of <b>1</b> is treated with I<sub>2</sub> in hexanes, the dark red dimeric complex {[1,3-(SiMe<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>3</sub>]NiI}<sub>2</sub> (<b>3</b>) is formed. Its X-ray crystal structure demonstrates that both eclipsed (<b>3a</b>) and staggered (<b>3b</b>) allyl conformation are present. The trimethylsilyl groups on the allyl ligands are in syn, anti arrangements in the two forms.