The chemistry of nickel complexes supported by phosphine donor ligands has
gained recent interest due to the ability of these species to catalyze a variety of chemical transformations. A series of divalent, monovalent, and zerovalent nickel
complexes supported by the strongly electron-releasing, monoanionic tris(phosphino)
borate ligand, [PhBP_3]=[PhB(CH_2PPh 2)_3]^-, have been synthesized to
explore their coordination chemistry and reactivity. The characterization of these
complexes will be presented, with comparisons drawn to isostructural nickel
complexes supported by neutral phosphine ligands