A Bis(μ-oxido)dinickel(III) Complex with a Triplet Ground State

A bis(mu-oxido)dinickel(III) complex was synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, resonance Raman, and ESI-mass measurements. Magnetic susceptibility measurements by SQUID and EPR spectroscopy reveal that the complex has a triplet ground state, which is unprecedented for high-valent metal (M) complexes with [M-2(mu-O)(2)] diamond core. DFT studies indicate ferromagnetic coupling of the nickel(III) centers. The complex exhibits hydrogen abstraction reactivity and oxygenation reactivity toward external substrates.