The syntheses of dilithium and disodium tetraisopropoxonickelate(rnII) were achieved using a novel startingrncompound, Nior2 ,2DME. This nickel(II) compound wos foundrnto be easy to prepare and a relatively stable compared tornthe commonly used starting an,logue, NiBr2 .2thf, whichrnwas difficult to prepare and easily hydrolized on exposurernto air. Electronic spectra and magnetic moment ofrnNior2 .2DME indicate an octahedral type coordination ofrnnickel(II) in solution. Jhe two alkoxonickelntesrnsynthesized from NiDr2 .2DME were found to be identicalrnwith those prep.'Jred using NiOr2 ,2thf. Using intramolecularrnredox properties of the above isopropoxonickelates,rna series of low valent nickel complexes werernsynthesized. A yellow-brownish comr1ex, Ni(prh 3)2(COD)rnwas synthesized starting from Na2Ni(Oirr)4.2thf. White,rntetrakis complexes of Ni(o) with friallyl phosphite,rntriphenyl phosphite, and orange to yellow-brownish bisrncomplex of 1,2-bis(diphenYlrhosnhino)ethane were synthesizedrnfrom either alkoxonickclates. In evary case, therncomplexes synthesized from lithium and sodium derivativesrnwere found to be the S3me. All the above complexesrnwere observed to be unstable in air. The results obtainedrnsUDnort the assumption of zero-valent nickel spocies tornbe active in catalytic systems consisting of Ni(II) I PR 3 ,rnand primary and primary and secondary ,lkoxides Which canrnbe used to transfer 1,3-dienes into Jimors and oligomers