[Cp^ArNi{Ga(nacnac)}]: An Open-Shell Nickel(I) Complex Supported by a Gallium(I) Carbenoid (Cp^Ar = C₅(C₆H₄‑4-Et)₅, nacnac = HC[C(Me)N-(C₆H₃)‑2,6‑iPr₂]₂)

The 17 valence electron (VE) open-shell nickel gallanediyl complex [Cp^ArNi­{Ga­(nacnac)}] (3, Ar = C₅(C₆H₄-4-Et)₅, nacnac = HC­[C­(Me)­N­(C₆H₃-2,6-iPr₂)]₂), having an unsupported Ni–Ga bond, was synthesized from [Cp^ArNi­(μ-Br)]₂ (1) by reducing the adduct [Cp^ArNi­(μ-Br)­{Ga­(nacnac)}] (2) or, alternatively, trapping the “Cp^ArNi^I” synthon with Ga­(nacnac); spectroscopic and DFT studies showed that the single unpaired electron in 3 resides mainly at the Ni center.