The diimino-diphenolato neutral square-planar Ni(II) complex, NiL2, is readily oxidised with 2 equiv. of Ag[SbF6], to produce an unprecedented octahedral Ni(II) tris(phenoxyl) radical complex, [Ni(L˙)3][SbF6]2. This study reveals, for the first time, the X-ray structure of a metal–tri-phenoxyl radical complex.
