The electrochemical reduction of the bis(acetylacetonato)nickel(II) complex in acetonitrile

The cathodic behaviour of the bis(acetylacetonato)nickel(II) complex was investigated in acetonitrile solution by cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential electrolysis. Irrespective of the electrode material employed, this species undergoes a complicated reduction process involving chemical reactions preceding and following the charge transfer step and leading to the formation of metallic nickel as the ultimate product. For this reduction, a mechanistic scheme is proposed which is consistent with the data. Evidence for the formation in the solution of mono(acetylacetonato)nickel(II) and tris(acetylacetonato)nickel(II) complexes were also obtained. © 1985.