The title compounds were prepared from the respective (R3P) 2NiC12 complexes and magnesiumanthra~ ene (THF')~(or anthracene in the presence of Mg or C8K). The assignment of the anthracene proton NMR signals using NOE in conjunction with magnetization-transfer techniques is described. The complexes undergo haptotropic rearrangements in which the (R3P) 2Ni moiety migrates between the two terminal rings of ...