Table 1. Synthesis of (dtbbpy)Ni^II(COR¹)Br and Selected Characterization Data^a.

entryb	[Ni]	yield (%)c	IR (cm–1)d	NMR (ppm)e	UV–vis (cm–1) (103 M–1 cm–1)f
1	1b	74	1612	3.12 (t)	20325 (5)
2	1c	89	1617	N/A	20576 (7)

^adtbbpy = 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine.

^bSee the Supporting Information for full characterization data and procedures.

^c1H NMR yield vs liberated cyclooctadiene; average of two runs.

^dC=O stretches reported that are characteristic of M–C(O)R complexes.^15e

^e1H NMR chemical shift and multiplicity for α proton of M–C(O)CH₂R.^15c N/A = not applicable.

^fUV–vis absorbances reported as wavenumbers (ε values are given in parentheses).