A previously reported complex, [Ni(C(21)H(21)O(3)P)(3)] or Ni[P(O-o-tolyl(3))(3)] [Gosser & Tolman (1970). Inorg. Chem. 9, 2350-2353], crystallized in the monoclinic space group C2/c, and its solid-state structure was determined. The Ni(0) atom adopts an essentially trigonal-planar geometry as a consequence of the steric congestion of the ligands. Three of the phenoxy rings on two phosphite ligands were modelled as being disordered over two sets of sites, and the occupancy factors were set at 0.5 after trial refinement and intramolecular contact considerations. The exact ligand cone angle has been calculated to be 163.6°.
Keywords: crystal structure; disorder; ligand cone angle; steric congestion; zero-valent nickel.