Synthesis and electronic spectra of fluorinated aryloxide and alkoxide [NiX(4)](2-) anions.

Five new homoleptic [NiX(4)](2-) compounds have been prepared with the fluorinated ligands OC(6)F(5) (OAr(F)), OC(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2) (OAr'), and OC(4)F(9) (OR(F)) and characterized with X-ray crystallography, magnetic susceptibility, and elemental analysis. Electronic spectral studies show that these ligands engender a ligand-field environment similar to that of fluoride and thus act electronically like fluoride, but with none of the drawbacks of F(-) as a transition-metal ligand.