The reduction of [Ni(DME)Cl₂] with 2 equiv. of bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-tetramethyldihydropyrazine in the presence of a ligand L and an excess of olefin cleanly leads to [Ni(L)(alkene)₂] complexes. When reduction is performed in the presence of 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD), [Ni(COD)₂] is obtained. Such an approach also allows access to the Ni^I dimer [Ni(bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)propane)Cl]₂.