Highly labile cationic tris-acetonitrile complexes, [TpRM(NCMe)3]OTf (M = Ni, Co; TpR: hydrotrispyrazolylborato, R = Ph, Me and iPr2): versatile precursors for TpR-containing nickel and cobalt complexes

The cationic tris-MeCN adducts of TpRM fragments, [TpRM(NCMe)3]OTf [TpR = hydrotrispyrazolylborato, R = 3-Ph-5-Me (1), 3,5-iPr2 (1′); M = Ni, Co], were prepared by chloride abstraction from the corresponding chloro complexes, TpRM–Cl (2), with AgOTf in acetonitrile. The MeCN ligands in 1 and 1′ are labile enough to be readily converted to a variety of adducts, [TpRM(L)n]OTf, via treatment with N- and P-donors [NC(CH2)2CN, p-NCC6H4CN, pyridine, o-bipy, p-bipy, Ph2P(CH2)mPPh2 (m = 2, 3)].