Selective P sub(4) activation by an organometallic nickel(i) radical: formation of a dinuclear nickel(ii) tetraphosphide and related di- and trichalcogenides

The reaction of the 17e nickel(i) radical [CpNi(IDipp)] (1, IDipp = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) with P sub(4) results in a nickel tetraphosphide [{CpNi(IDipp)} sub(2)( mu - eta super(1): eta super(1)-P sub(4 ))] with a butterfly-P sub(4) super(2-) ligand; related chalcogenides [{CpNi(IDipp)} sub(2)( mu -E sub(2))] (E = S, Se, Te) and [{CpNi(IDipp)} sub(2)( mu -E sub(3))] (E = S, Se) are formed with S sub(8), Se sub( infinity ) and Te sub( infinity ).