The nickel(0) fragment [(P-P)Ni], where (P-P) = dcype (1,2-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane) ordtbpe (1,2-bis(di-
tert-butylphosphino)ethane), reacts with the cyano-olefins involved in the isomerizationprocess of 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile (2M3BN), producing the corresponding complex [(P-P)Ni(
2-
C,C-cyano-olefin)]. In the case of 2M3BN and 3-pentenenitrile (3PN), the
![](/images/gifchars/pi.gif)
-methylallyl metal complex wasobserved in solution. All of the intermediates in the catalytic cycle were detected and characterized byheteronuclear NMR spectroscopy; some of these were also characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffractionstudies. The initial catalytic behavior of this system for the isomerization of 2M3BN was studied also.