[CpArNi{Ga(nacnac)}]: An Open-Shell Nickel(I) Complex Supported by a Gallium(I) Carbenoid (CpAr = 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 [CpArNi{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 [CpArNi(µ-Br)]2 (1) by reducing the adduct [CpArNi(μ-Br){Ga(nacnac)}] (2) or, alternatively, trapping the "CpArNiI" synthon with Ga(nacnac); spectroscopic and DFT studies showed that the single unpaired electron in 3 resides mainly at the Ni center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]