Darkwa, JNelana, S2023-06-132024-05-092023-06-132024-05-092003https://hdl.handle.net/10566/14600>Magister Scientiae - MScThis study concerns the synthesis of pyrazole and substituted pyrazole nickel complexes of the type [(3,5-R,R',pz)2NiB rz ( Pz : pyrazole; R = R' = cHr (1), tBu (a)l and of the type [(3,5-R,R'pz)aNiBrz R: H, R' : CHr (2)] R: R' :H (3)l' These complexes were synthesized by reacting (DME)NiBrz and the appropriate pyrazole or substituted pyrazole in dichloromethane. The products were obtained in moderate to good yields. All the complexes isolated were charac teizedby a combination of IR spectroscopy, tH NNm. spectroscopy and elemental analysis' Complexes I and 2 were further characteri zedby single crystal X-ray crystallography. Complex 1 was found to have a tetrahedral geometry and complex 2 has an octahedral geometry' In addition to the pyrazole nickel complexes, new pyr.volyl ligands with alkane-o'oldione linkers tRpzC(OXCHz),C(O)pzR); R: CHr' n: 0 (A1)' n:2 (A2)'n:3 (A3) and R: tBu, n = 3 (A4)] were synthesized. These new ligands were charactenzed by IR spectroscopy, ,H NNfi, "C NNffi. spectoscopy and elemental analysis' They were further reacted with (cHrCN)2PdCl2 in attempts to obtain a'obis(3'5- Rzpyrazolyl)alkane-cr,rodione palladium chloride complexes' These ligands tend to undergo hydrolysis when they are reacted wittr (CHTCN)zPdClz as confirmed by tH NMR spectral analysis. one complex, 1,5.bis(3,5.Mezpz)pentane-1,5-dione palladium chloride was successfully prepared under very dry solvent conditions' The 1,5-bis(3,5-Mezpz)pentane-1,Sdione palladium chloride complex was characteized by 'HNMR spectroscoPY.enNickel pyrazolePalladiumpyruzolylCatalyst precursorEthylene polymeizationUniversity of the Western Cape