Organometallic nickel(II) complexes with dithiophosphate, dithiophosphonate and monothiophosphonate ligands

The hydroxo complex [NBu₄]₂[Ni₂(C₆F₅)₄(μ-OH)₂] reacts with ammonium O,O^′-dialkyldithiophosphates, O-alkyl-p-methoxyphenyldithiophosphonate acids and ammonium O-alkylferrocenyldithiophosphonates in dichloromethane under mild conditions to give, respectively, [NBu₄][Ni(C₆F₅)₂{S(S)P(OR)₂}] (R=Me (1), Et (2), ⁱPr (3)) and [NBu₄][Ni(C₆F₅)₂{S(S)P(OR)Ar}] (Ar=p-MeOC₆H₄, R=Me (4), Et (5), ⁱPr (6); Ar=ferrocenyl; R=Me (7), Et (8), ⁱPr (9)). The monothiophosphonate nickel complexes [NBu₄][Ni(C₆F₅)₂{S(S)P(OR)(ferrocenyl)}] (R=Et (10), ⁱPr (11)) are obtained by reaction of the hydroxo complex with O-alkylferrocenyldithiophosphonate acids. Analytical (C, H, N, S), conductivity, and spectroscopic (IR, ¹H, ¹⁹F and ³¹P NMR, and FAB-MS) data were used for structural assignments. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of [NBu₄][Ni(C₆F₅)₂{S(S)P(OMe)(p-MeOC₆H₄)}] (4) and [NBu₄][Ni(C₆F₅)₂{S(O)P(OEt)(ferrocenyl)}] (10) shows that in both cases the coordination around the nickel atom es essentially square planar with NiC₂S₂ and NiC₂SO central cores, respectively.     

Synthesis and characterization of mono- and dinuclear nickel complexes with dichalcogenolate o-carboranyl ligands

Three mono- and dinuclear nickel complexes with dichalcogenolate o-carboranyl ligands were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The reactions of Ni(COD)₂(COD=1,5-octadiene) with [(THF)₃LiE₂C₂B₁₀H₁₀Li(THF)]₂ (E=S, Se) in THF in the presence of air in different ratios afforded the mono- and dinuclear nickel complexes of formulae Li(THF)₄]₂[Ni(E₂C₂B₁₀H₁₀)₂] (E=S, 1a; E=Se, 1b) and [Li(THF)₄]₂[Ni₂(E₂C₂B₁₀H₁₀)₃] (E=S, 2a; E=Se, 2b). In 2a, two nickel atoms are connected by one chalcogen (η¹,η²-S₂C₂B₁₀H₁₀) bridging ligand with strong metal-metal interaction. Complex of formula (PPh₃)₂Ni(S₂C₂B₁₀H₁₀) · 0.5THF (3a) was also obtained from the reaction of (PPh₃)₂NiCl₂ and [(THF)₃LiS₂C₂B₁₀H₁₀Li(THF)]₂.     

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of nickel complexes with dissymmetric tetradentate ligands containing a mixed-donor sphere

Four new nickel(II) complexes of dissymmetric tetradentate ligands, containing mixed-ligand donor sets of NSNS or NSNO, have been synthesized. These complexes were prepared by facile template reactions of the appropriate aldehyde and amine in the presence of [Ni(H₂O)₆](BF₄)₂, resulting directly in the desired nickel compounds. The nickel compounds were characterized by analytical, spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. The structures of [Ni(pyzs)]BF₄, [Ni(pyrs)]BF₄ and [Ni(pyzo)]BF₄ (see Scheme 1) have been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, showing the geometry of the nickel ion to be square-planar. Vis–NIR spectra show that the phenolate-containing complexes [Ni(pyzo)]BF₄ and [Ni(pyro)]BF₄ (see Scheme 1) are essentially square-planar in nitromethane, but tetragonal octahedral in methanol, whereas the thiophenolate-containing compounds [Ni(pyzs)]BF₄ and [Ni(pyrs)]BF₄ remain square-planar in both solvents. Titration of the thiophenolate-containing complexes with 1-methylimidazole results in diamagnetic five-coordinated complexes. Electrochemistry shows quasi-reversible reductions to Ni(I) to occur for [Ni(pyzo)]BF₄, [Ni(pyrs)]BF₄ and [Ni(pyro)]BF₄.     

Bimetallic cyclooligosiloxanolate complexes of copper and nickel

The bimetallic cyclosiloxanolate cluster complexes Na[PhSiO₂)₆Cu₄Ni₂(μ₆-Cl)(PhSiO₂)₆] (1) and Na[(PhSiO₂)₆Cu₃Ni₃(μ6-Cl)(PhSiO₂)₆] (2) were prepared by Na⁺ and Ni²⁺ ion exchange from in situ generated Na₂ {[(PhSiO₂)₆]₂Na₄Ni₄(OH)₂}. Complexes 1 and 2 were characterized by analytical, spectroscopic and electrochemical methods as well as complex 2 by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The X-ray structure shows a sandwich-type array comprising two superimposed cyclosiloxanolate rings and an M₆Cl unit in between. For the first time the regioselectivity of the metal ion exchange could be deduced from the X-ray structural parameters.     

Octahedral nickel(II) hexamethyleneimine-dithiocarbamato complexes involving bidentate N,N-donor ligands

The nickel(II) complexes of the compositions [Ni(hmidtc)(bpy)₂]ClO₄ (I), [Ni(hmidtc)(phen)₂]ClO₄ (II), [Ni(hmidtc)(phen)₂]SCN (III), [Ni(hmidtc)(phen)₂]PF₆ (IV), [Ni(hmidtc)(phen)₂]BPh₄ (V), [Ni(hmidtc)(phen)₂]AcO·2H₂O (VI) and [Ni(hmidtc)(phen)₂]Br·H₂O (VII), involving a combination of one hexamethyleneimine-dithiocarbamate anion (hmidtc) and two bidentate N,N-donor ligands (2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) for I or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) for II-VII), have been prepared. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity measurements, UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy, magnetochemical measurements and thermal analysis. A single-crystal X-ray analysis of the complex I revealed a distorted octahedral geometry with the nickel(II) ion coordinated by four nitrogen atoms (from two bidentate-coordinated bpy molecules) and two sulfur atoms (from one bidentate-coordinated hmidtc anion), together giving an NiN₄S₂ donor set.     

Syntheses, crystal structure and theoretical investigation of novel heteroleptic complexes of nickel(II) with N-R-sulfonyldithiocarbimate and phosphine ligands

Five new complexes of general formula: [Ni(RSO₂NCS₂)(dppe)], where R = C₆H₅ (1), 4-ClC₆H₄ (2), 4-BrC₆H₄ (3), 4-IC₆H₄ (4) and dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane and [Ni(4-IC₆H₄SO₂NCS₂)(PPh₃)₂] (5), where PPh₃ = triphenylphosphine, were obtained in crystalline form by the reaction of the appropriate potassium N-R-sulfonyldithiocarbimate K₂(RSO₂NCS₂) and dppe or PPh₃ with nickel(II) chloride in ethanol/water. The elemental analyses and the IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and ³¹P NMR spectra are consistent with the formation of the square planar nickel(II) complexes with mixed ligands. All complexes were also characterized by X-ray diffraction techniques and present a distorted cis-NiS₂P₂ square-planar configuration around the Ni atom. Quantum chemical calculations reproduced the crystallographic structures and are in accord with the spectroscopic data. Rare C-H···Ni intramolecular short contact interactions were observed in the complexes 1-5.     

Lightinduced sulfur-dealkylation of phosphino-thioether nickel(0) complexes

The observation of homolytic S---CH₃ bond cleavage in (Ph₂P(o-C₆H₄)SCH₃)₂Ni⁰ under photochemical conditions has prompted further investigation of nickel(0) complexes and their stability. Tetradentate P₂S′₂ donor ligands (S′ = thioether type S donor) with aromatic rings incorporated into the P to S links, Ph₂P(o-C₆H₄)S(CH₂)₃S(o-C₆H₄)PPh₂ (arom-PSSP), or the S to S links, Ph₂P(CH₂)₂SCH₂(o-C₆H₄)CH₂S(CH₂)₂PPh₂ (PS-xy-SP), have been used to form four-coordinate, square planar nickel(II) complexes, [(arom-PSSP)Ni](BF₄)₂ (2) and [(PS-xy-SP)Ni](BF₄)₂ (3). The bidentate and tetradentate ligands, Ph₂P(o-C₆H₄)SCH₂CH₃ (arom-PSEt) and Ph₂P(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₃S(CH₂)₂PPh₂ (PSSP), give similar complexes, [(arom-PSEt)₂Ni](BF₄)₂ (1) and [(PSSP)Ni](BF₄)₂ (4), respectively. Cyclic voltammograms of the Ni¹¹ complexes in CH₃CN show two reversible redox events assigned to and . The one-electron reduction product produced by stoichiometric amounts of Cp₂Co can be characterized by EPR. At 100 K rhombic signals show hyperfine coupling to two phosphorus atoms. Complete bulk chemical reduction of complexes 1, 2, 3 and 4 with Na/Hg amalgam provided the corresponding nickel(0) complexes 1^R, 2^R, 3^R and 4^R which were isolated as red solutions or solids characterized by magnetic resonance properties and reaction products. Photolysis of these nickel(0) complexes leads to S-dealkylation to produce alkyl radicals and dithiolate nickel(II) complexes. Complex 3 crystallized in the monoclinic space group P_2t/c with a=20.740(5), B=9.879(3), C=17.801(4) åA, ß=92.59(2)°, V=3644(2) ų and Z=4; complex 4: P2₁/c with A=13.815(4), B=13.815(4), C=15.457(5) åA, V=3365.4(14) ų and Z=4.     

Novel halogen-bridged bisphosphine nickel(II) complexes

Reaction of [NiCl₂(dtbpe)] (dtbpe = 1,2-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)ethane) with one equivalent of NaBAr^F₄ (BAr^F₄ = tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate) gives the dinuclear chloro-bridged nickel complex [Ni₂(μ-Cl)₂(dtbpe)₂](BAr^F₄)₂ (1). [Ni(solv)₆](BF₄)₂ reacts with dtbpe to give, depending on the solvent, the fluoro-bridged complex [Ni₂(μ-F)₂(dtbpe)₂](BF₄)₂ (2) (solv = THF) or the mononuclear chelate complex [Ni(MeCN)₂(dtbpe)](BF₄)₂ (3) (solv = MeCN). In 1-3, nickel cations are coordinated in a square-planar fashion according to X-ray crystallography. No Ni-Ni interaction was observed in dinuclear halogen-bridged complexes 1 and 2.     

Steric and counterion effects on the structure of dipicolylamine nickel complexes

Four nickel complexes each containing an R-2,2′-dipicolylamine ligand species (RDPA; R = benzyl, isopropyl, or tert-butyl) were synthesized and structurally characterized. In the absence of an interfering coordinating counterion, BzDPA and iPrDPA form 1:2 nickel:ligand complexes, with two facial ligands completing an pseudooctahedral nickel(II) coordination environment. In contrast, the sterically hindered tBuDPA ligand instead forms 1:1 metal:ligand complexes, even in the absence of associating counterions. Two novel tBuDPA nickel complexes with different counterions are described: nickel(II) chloride gives rise to an unusual 2Ni-3Cl dimer complex, while nickel(II) nitrate affords a 1:1 nickel:ligand complex which crystallizes with both fac and mer conformations in the same unit cell.     

Organoosmium complexes of imidazole-containing chelate acceptor ligands

The complexes [(L)Os(η⁶-Cym)Cl](PF₆), Cym = p-cymene and L = bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)ketone (bik) or bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)glyoxal (big), were obtained and characterized with respect to spectroscopy, crystal structure (big complex) and (spectro)electrochemical behaviour at variable temperatures. DFT calculations confirm the structure of [(big)Os(η⁶-Cym)Cl]⁺ with imidazolyl-N-bonded Os^II in a boat-shaped seven-membered chelate ring with small N-Os-N angles (<84°). Reduction of this compound proceeds reversibly to a neutral complex of the α-semidione radical anion ligand big⁻; EPR and IR spectroelectrochemistry indicate very little participation from the heavy metal in the spin distribution. The analogous [(bik)Os(η⁶-Cym)Cl]⁺ could not be reduced reversibly to the ketyl radical complex but displayed a more reversible oxidation at high potential.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic investigations of four-coordinate nickel complexes supported by a strongly donating scorpionate ligand

Two four-coordinate nickel complexes, HB(^tBuIm)₃NiBr and HB(^tBuIm)₃NiNO, were prepared by reaction of a bulky tris(carbene)borate ligand with NiBr₂(PPh₃)₂ and NiBr(NO)(PPh₃)₂, respectively, and structurally and spectroscopically characterized. In addition to standard techniques, high-frequency and -field electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) was employed to understand the spin triplet (S = 1) ground state of the bromo complex. HFEPR, combined with electronic absorption spectroscopy allows comparison of this novel complex with other paramagnetic four-coordinate Ni(II) species. The tris(carbene)borate ligand is a stronger σ-donor than corresponding tris(pyrazolyl)borates (traditional “scorpionate” ligands). The tris(carbene)borate ligand may also act as a π-acceptor, in contrast to tris(pyrazolyl)borates, which show relatively little π-bonding interactions. The influence of tris(carbene)borate substituents on the donor strength of the ligand have been elucidated from IR spectroscopic investigations of {NiNO}¹⁰ derivatives. HFEPR spectra of HB(^tBuIm)₃NiBr exhibit hyperfine coupling from Br, which indicates the strong electronic interaction between Ni(II) and this halide ligand, consistent with studies on tris(pyrazolyl)borate Ni(II) complexes.     

Synthetic, spectroscopic, biological and X-ray crystallographic structural studies on a novel pyridine-nitrogen-bridged dimeric nickel(II) complex of a pentadentate N3S2 ligand

The Schiff base formed by condensation of 2,6-diacetylpyridine with S-benzyldithiocarbazate (H₂SNNNS) behaves as a pentadentate ligand, forming a nickel(II) complex of empirical formula Ni(SNNNS)·H₂O that is high-spin with a room-temperature magnetic moment of 2.93 B.M. Spectroscopic data indicate that the ligand coordinates with the nickel(II) ion via the pyridine nitrogen atom, the azomethine nitrogen atom and the thiolate sulfur atom. The crystal and molecular structure of the nickel(II) complex was determined by X-ray crystallography. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c, with a=15.849(2), b=18.830(2) and c=18.447(2) Å and =90°, β=102.179(6)°, γ=90° and Z=8. The crystal structure analysis shows that the complex is dinuclear, [Ni(SNNNS)]₂·2H₂O, in which the nickel(II) ions are bridged by the two pyridine nitrogen atoms of two fully deprotonated ligands. The NiN₄S₂ coordination geometry about each nickel(II) ion can be described as a distorted octahedron. The Schiff base and its nickel(II) complex were tested against four pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus and B. subtilis (wild type B29) and pathogenic fungi (Saccharomyces ceciricae, Candida albicans, Candida lypolitica and Aspergillus ochraceous) to assess their antimicrobial properties. Both compounds exhibit mild antibacterial and antifungal activities against these organisms. The anticancer properties of these compounds were also evaluated against Human T-lymphoblastic leukaemia cell lines. The Schiff base exhibits marked cytotoxicity against these cells, but its nickel(II) complex is inactive.     

Synthesis and characterization of nickel and palladium complexes containing hetero-multidentate PNO ligands

Formation of mono- and dinuclear complexes containing ligands stemmed from the condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol derivatives with 2-(diphenylphosphino)aniline (P∼N) was investigated. Condensation of P∼N with 2,6-diformyl-4-methylanisole yielded the desired bis(imine-phosphine) L₃, but provided the cyclized benzoazaphospholium compound with 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol. Complexation of L₃ with (COD)PdCl₂ gave the dinuclear complex 4. On the other hand, L₃ underwent the intramolecular cyclization in the presence of (DME)NiCl₂ via the formation of benzoazaphospholium rings. Template condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol with P∼N in the presence of metal ions yielded the mononuclear nickel(II) and palladium(II) complexes, respectively.     

Self-assembled monolayers of bis(salicylaldiminato)nickel(II) Schiff-base complexes: synthesis and structure

The synthesis of two derivatized Ni^II Schiff-base complexes is reported. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been obtained by reaction of coupling layers, functionalized glass substrates and the derivatized complex precursors. The self-assembled films have been characterized by contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. A structure of these SAMs is proposed on the basis of spectroscopic data and molecular metrical parameters.     

Mononuclear nickel and copper complexes with indolecarboxamide ligands: Synthesis, properties and electrochemistry

Few nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes have been prepared with three new indolecarboxamide ligands (H₄L³, H₄L⁴ and H₄L⁵) offering two N_amide and two N_indole donor sites to the metal center. The ligands carry electron-donating (-CH₃); -H; and electron-withdrawing (-Cl) substituents on the phenylene backbone to evaluate their effect on the structure and redox properties of the metal complexes. One of the representative nickel complexes has been structurally characterized and reveals that the ligand create a distorted square-planar geometry around the metal center. The electrochemical results suggest that the Ni^3+/2+ and Cu^3+/2+ redox couple primarily depends on the tetra-anionic N₄ donors; however, the electronic substituents shift the redox potentials by 285 mV. The observed M^3+/2+ redox potentials (0.007-0.30 V versus SCE) for these complexes are considerably on lower side due to strong σ-donation from the tetra-deprotonated form of the indolecarboxamide ligands. Based on the redox investigations, the transient M³⁺ species were generated electrochemically and characterized by the absorption spectroscopy.     

P Chemical shift anisotropies of dihalobis(trialkylphosphine)nickel(II) complexes

The ³¹P CP-MAS NMR spectra of trans-square-planar complexes of dihalonickel(II) complexes with tribenzyl-, tricyclohexyl- and tricyclohexylmethylphosphines have been examined and the chemical shift tensors determined. The spans, δ₁₁-δ₃₃, of the tensor components decrease with change in the halide, Cl > Br > I, for all the tertiary phosphines due principally to the deshielding of the δ₃₃ component.     

Mixed-ligand thiosemicarbazone complexes of nickel: Synthesis, structure and catalytic activity

Reaction of thiosemicarbazones of salicylaldehyde, 2-hydroxyacetophenone and 2-hydroxynaphthaldehyde with Ni(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O, using 2,2′-bipyridine as coligand, afforded three dinuclear complexes (1a, 1b and 1c). Similar reactions using 2,2′:6′2″-terpyridine as coligand yielded three mononuclear complexes (2a, 2b and 2c). Crystal structures of 1b and 2a have been determined. In the dinuclear complexes, one nickel center is surrounded octahedrally by a dianionic O,N,S-donor thiosemicarbazone, a bipyridine and the bridging phenolate oxygen of the other thiosemicarbazone. The second nickel center adopts a square-planar geometry created by the second O,N,S-coordinated thiosemicarbazone and the bridging sulfur of the first thiosemicarbazone. In the mononuclear complexes nickel is complexed by a monoanionic O,N,S-coordinated thiosemicarbazone and a terpyridine, and the cationic species are isolated as perchlorate salts. All these six complexes are paramagnetic (μ_eff = 2.63-2.92 B.M.) and in dimethylsulfoxide solution they show intense absorptions in the visible and ultraviolet region, origin of which has been probed through DFT calculations. Cyclic voltammetry on the complexes shows one irreversible oxidation of coordinated thiosemicarbazone on the positive side of SCE, and one irreversible reduction of the coordinated polypyridine ligand on the negative side. These nickel complexes are found to be efficient catalysts for Suzuki cross-coupling reactions.     

Synthesis, characterization and X-ray crystal structures of copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes with potentially hexadentate Schiff base ligands

Copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes of potentially N₂O₄ Schiff base ligands 2-({[2-(2-{2-[(1-{2-hydroxy-5-[2-phenyl-1-diazenyl]phenyl}methylidene)amino] phenoxy}ethoxy) phenyl]imino}methyl)4-[2-phenyl-1-diazenyl]phenol (H₂L¹) and 2-({[2-(4-{2-[(1-{2-hydroxy-5-[2-phenyl-1-diazenyl]phenyl}methylidene)amino] phenoxy}butoxy) phenyl]imino}methyl)4-[2-phenyl-1-diazenyl]phenol (H₂L²) prepared of 5-phenylazo salicylaldehyde (1) and two various diamines 2-[2-(2-aminophenoxy)ethoxy]aniline (2) and 2-[4-(2-aminophenoxy)butoxy]aniline (3) were synthesized and characterized by a variety of physico-chemical techniques. The single-crystal X-ray diffractions are reported for CuL¹ and NiL². The CuL¹ complex contains copper(II) in a near square-planar environment of N₂O₂ donors. The NiL² complex contains nickel(II) in a distorted octahedral geometry coordination of N₂O₄ donors. In all complexes, H₂L¹ behaves as a tetradentate and H₂L² acts as a hexadentate ligand. Cyclic voltammetry of copper(II) complexes indicate a quasi-reversible redox wave in the negative potential range.     

Ternary nickel(II) complexes as hydrolytic DNA-cleavage agents

A series of small model complexes made from Ni(II) and the ligands ethylenediamine (en), histamine (hist), and histidylleucine (HisLeu) were prepared and studied as potential hydrolytic DNA-cleavage agents. The stability constants and species-distribution curves for these complexes were determined as a function of pH. The 1 : 1 : 1 ternary complexes [Ni(II)(en)(HisLeu)] (1) and [Ni(II)(hist)(HisLeu)] (2) were the only major species present at the physiologically relevant pH of 6-7, as further corroborated by ESI-MS analysis. The complex geometries of 1 and 2 were analyzed by UV/VIS experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Both ternary complexes were found to intercalate with DNA, as shown by UV/VIS, thermal-denaturation, and fluorescence-titration studies with ethidium bromide (EB). The intrinsic binding constants (K(b)) for the bound complexes 1DNA and 2DNA were determined as 150 and 290, resp. Gel-electrophoresis experiments revealed that 1 and 2 cleave supercoiled (type-I) to nicked-circular (type-II) DNA at physiological pH, with rate constants of 0.64 and 0.75 h(-1), resp. A tentative mechanism for this hydrolytic cleavage is proposed.     

Dinuclear terephthalato-bridged nickel(II) complexes. Structural characterization and magnetic properties

The dinuclear terephthalato-bridged nickel(II) complexes [Ni₂(cyclen)₂(μ-tp)](ClO₄)₂ (1) [Ni₂(trpn)₂(μ-tp)(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ (2) and [Ni₂(3,3,3-tet)₂(μ-tp)(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ · 2H₂O (3), where tp = terephthalate dianion, cyclen = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, trpn = tris(3-aminopropyl)amine and 3,3,3-tet = 1,5,9,13-tetraazatridecane, were synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Their magnetic susceptibilities were also determined at variable temperatures over the range 2-300 K. The structures of these complexes consist of μ-tp bridging two Ni(II) centers in a bis(bidentate) bonding fashion in 1 and in bis(monodentate) bonding fashion in 2 and 3. The coordination geometry around the Ni(II) ions in these compounds has a distorted octahedral geometry with four nitrogen atoms from the amine ligand (cyclen, trpn or 3,3,3-tet) and two coordinated oxygen atoms supplied by the chelated carboxylate group of the bridged terephthalate ligand in 1, and by one tp-carboxylate-oxygen in 2 and 3. The sixth coordination site in the last two complexes 2 and 3 is achieved via an oxygen atom from a coordinated water molecule. The intradimer Ni…Ni distances in these complexes are 10.740, 11.428 and 11.537 Å for 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The electronic spectra of the complexes in aqueous solutions are in complete agreement with the assigned X-ray geometry around the Ni(II) centers. Also, the analysis of the infrared spectral data for the ν(COO⁻) stretching frequencies of the tp-carboxalato groups reveals the existence of the bis(bidentate) and bis(monodentate) coordination modes for the bridged terephthalate ligand in 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Despite the different coordination modes of the tp bridging ligand in these complexes, they all exhibit very weak antiferromagnetic coupling. The coupling constants J were found to be −2.2, −0.6 and −1.5 cm³ K mol⁻¹ for the complexes 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The structural and magnetic results of 1-3 are discussed in relation to the other related published μ-terephthalato dinuclear Ni(II) compounds.