The spectra, structures and electrochemistry of Ni(η5-C5H5)(PPh3)–Ctriple bond; length of mdashC–Ar complexes, and their reactions with Co2(CO)8

A series of Ni(η5-C5H5)(PPh3)–Ctriple bond; length of mdashC–Ar complexes, 1 are reported, where Ar = (a) C6H5, (b) 4-PhC6H4, (c) 1-C10H7 (1-naphthyl), (d) 2-C10H7 (2-naphthyl), (e) 9-C14H9 (9-phenanthryl), (f) 9-C14H9 (9-anthryl), (g) 1-C16H9 (1-pyrenyl), (h) 1-C20H11 (1-perylenyl), (i) 2-C4H3S (2-thienyl), (j) C10H9Fe (ferrocenyl), (k) SiMe3, and (l) H. 1a–1i react with Co2(CO)8 to give the {Ni(η-C5H5)(PPh3)–Ctriple bond; length of mdashC–Ar}{Co2(CO)6} derivatives 2. All 1 and 2 have been characterised by elemental analysis and spectroscopy (IR, UV–Vis, 1H NMR and 13C NMR), X-ray diffraction for 1e (Ar = 9-phenanthryl), 1j (Ar = ferrocenyl) and 1l (Ar=H), electrochemistry for all 1, and spectroelectrochemistry for 1j.