<p id="p0010">A dozen new POCOP pincer nickel isothiocyanate and azide complexes were synthesized.p>
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<p id="p0015">Metathesis reactivity and ligand exchange reactions of these complexes were studied.p>
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<p id="p0020">The metathesis reaction is faster with a less electron rich nickel center.p>
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<p id="p0025">In competing with pan class="underline">Npan>CSp>−p>, pan id="mmlsi1" class="mathmlsrc">pan class="formulatext stixSupport mathImg" data-mathURL="/science?_ob=MathURL&_method=retrieve&_eid=1-s2.0-S0022328X15302527&_mathId=si1.gif&_user=111111111&_pii=S0022328X15302527&_rdoc=1&_issn=0022328X&md5=98f77f7ac3136e1b7320f736489543a9" title="Click to view the MathML source">N3p>−p>pan>pan class="mathContainer hidden">pan class="mathCode">pan>pan>pan> prefers a less electron rich nickel center.p>
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<p id="p0030">The experimental results were supported by DFT calculations and the HSAB theory.p>