Synthesis and crystal structure of a phosphite nickel(II) 8-mercaptoquinoline complex

A monomeric trimethylphosphite nickel(II) complex of 8-mercaptoquinoline (Hmtq), [Ni(mtq)P(OMe)3]Cl, was synthesised and characterised by X-crystallography, FAB-MS and cyclic voltammogram measurements. The nickel(II) atom is co-ordinated via the S and N atoms of the mtq− entity, one P(OMe)3 ligand and one Cl− anion in a square-planar geometry. Two types of main fragment ions were observed in the FAB mass spectrum of the title complex: Cl− followed by P(OMe)3. The electrochemical behaviour of the title complex in MeCN solution with n-Bu4NBF4 (0.1molL−1) as electrolyte on the Pt electrode indicates that the reversible redox reaction [Ni(mtq)P(OMe)3]+ + e ↔ [Ni(mtq)P(OMe)]0 has occured in MeCN.