Structural and NMR Studies of Indenyl Hapticity and Rotational Barriers in the Complexes (η-1-R-Indenyl)Ni(PPh3)(X) (R = H, Me; X = Cl, Me)

The relative trans influences of Cl and Me in the complexes (1-Me-indenyl)Ni(PPh 3 )Cl and (1-Me-indenyl)Ni(PPh 3 )Me lead to different solid state hapticities for the 1-Me-indenyl ligands. Comparing the solution NMR data for these complexes and the energy barriers to the rotation of the indenyl ligands in their unsubstituted analogues demonstrates that solid state hapticities are preserved in solution.