Introduction Bis-2,6(3,5-dimethyl(pyrazol-1-yl) pyridine (dmpp) is a terpyridyl type tridendate ligand synthesized at the be- ginning of the 1990’s [1]. Due to the presence of 5 nitro- gen donor atoms side by side in the three aromatic rings dmpp and similar molecules are denoted as strong lig- ands. Also the planar structure of the three donor atoms increase this effect. There are many similar studies and structures dealing with this subject. The structures of iron(II), copper(II) and cobalt(II) complexes of dmpp [2–4] and dinuclear structures of Ni(II) [5] have been re- ported in literature. There are also many studies dealing with the catalytic effect of some pyrazolyl pyridine complexes [6–11]. It has been established since 1986 that azide and thiocyanate ions form m-bridges of end–end (1,1) and end–on (1.3) types [12, 13]. There are many examples in literature dealing with the 1,1 and 1,3 bridges formed by azide and thiocyanate ions [14–19]. In this this study bis-2,6(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (pp) and some methyl derivatives, 2-(3,5-dimethyl- (pyrazol-1-yl)-6-(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (app) and bis-2,6(3,5-dimethyl(pyrazol-1-yl) pyridine (dmpp) were synthesized with the intention of forming polynuclear nickel(II) complexes using azide and thiocyanate ions. X-ray studies revealed dinuclear complexes to form with azide ions and mono nuclear complexes to form with thiocyanate ions. Figure 1 gives the formulas of the ligands pp, app and dmpp. Thermal analysis, especially thermogravimetry is an exceptionally effective method in determination of complex stoichiometry. The mass of the coordinatively bonded solvent molecules give very 1388–6150/$20.00 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary © 2008 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, Vol. 92 (2008) 2, 617–624 NICKEL(II) COMPLEXES PREPARED FROM NNN TYPE LIGANDS AND PSEUDOHALOGENS * Synthesis, structure and thermal decomposition F. Nazli DÏn¸er Kaya 1 , Ingrid Svoboda 2 , Orhan Atakol 3** , ÜmÏt Ergun 3 , Adnan Kenar 3 , Musa Sari 4 and Kaan C. Emregül 3 1 Mersin University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Mersin, Turkey 2 Strukturforschung, FB Materialwissenschaft, Technische Hochschule, Darmstadt Petersenstrasse 23, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany 3 Ankara University, Science Faculty, Department of Chemistry, Tando Èan 06100 Ankara, Turkey 4 Gazi University, Faculty of Education, Be êevler Ankara, Turkey Six nickel(II) complexes, using azide and thiocyanate ions, have been synthesized from bis-2,6(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (pp) and some methyl derivatives, 2-(3,5-dimethyl(pyrazol-1-yl)-6-(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (app) and bis-2,6(3,5-dimethyl(pyrazol-1-yl) pyridine (dmpp) in non-aqueous media. The complex structures were analyzed using elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. Appropriate crystals of complex, containing azide [Nipp(N 3 ) 2 ]·MeOH (I) and thiocyanate [Nidmpp(SCN) 2 ·MeOH] (VI) were prepared and the molecular structures determined using X-ray diffraction. Complex I was seen to be dinuclear as stated in literature, space group P2 1 /n, monoclinic, a=10.503, b=10.681, c=13.291 , b=106.56° and Z=2 whereas complex VI was found to be mononuclear, space group P2 1 /n, monoclinic, a=8.646, b=12.614, c=20.697 , b=97.18° and Z=2. The Ni(II) coordination in both complexes were octahedral. Thermogravimetric studies showed azide containing structures to resemble the characteristics of explosive materials. Coordinative MeOH were seen to leave the structure in thiocyanate containing com- plexes, followed by irregular degradation above 300°C. Keywords: azide, crystal structure, nickel(II) complexes, synthesis, thermal analysis, thiocyanate Fig. 1 The formulas of the ligands pp, app and dmpp * In dedication to the 66 th birthday of Prof. Dr. h.c. Hartmut Fuess ** Author for correspondence: atakol@science.ankara.edu.tr