The recently published purely metallo-organic Ni salt [Ni(cod) ][Al(OR ) ] (1, cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene, R =C(CF ) ) provides a starting point for a new synthesis strategy leading to Ni phosphine complexes, replacing cod ligands by phosphines. Clearly visible colour changes indicate reactions within minutes, while quantum chemical calculations (PBE0-D3(BJ)/def2-TZVPP) approve exergonic reaction enthalpies in all performed ligand exchange reactions. Hence, [Ni(dppp) ][Al(OR ) ] (2, dppp=1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane), [Ni(dppe) ][Al(OR ) ] (3, dppe=1,3-bis(diphenyl-phosphino)ethane), three-coordinate [Ni(PPh ) ][Al(OR ) ] (4) and a remarkable two-coordinate Ni phosphine complex [Ni(PtBu ) ][Al(OR ) ] (5) were characterised by single crystal X-ray structure analysis. EPR studies were performed, confirming a nickel d -configuration in complexes 2, 4 and 5. This result is supported by additional magnetization measurements of 4 and 5. Further investigations by cyclic voltammetry indicate relatively high oxidation potentials for these Ni compounds between 0.7 and 1.7 V versus Fc/Fc . Screening reactions with O and CO gave first insights on the reaction behaviour of the Ni phosphine complexes towards small molecules with formation of mixed phosphine-CO-Ni complexes and oxidation processes yielding new Ni and/or Ni derivatives. Moreover, 4 reacted with CH Cl at RT to give a dimeric Ni ylide complex (4 c). As CH Cl is a rather stable alkyl halide with relatively high C-Cl bond energies, 4 appears to be a suitable reagent for more general C-Cl bond activation reactions.