Perovskite LaNiO 3 is of immense significance in a range of fields such as heterogeneous catalysis. Herein, new convenient approach for preparing LaNiO 3 via thermolysis of new simple complexes, [Ni (bpyis 1,10-phenanthroline), is reported. These first examples of unambiguously characterized LaNiO 3 precursors are chemically stable and can be synthesized rapidly in good yields. While virtually monophasic LaNiO 3 can be prepared from 2 via only 3-h annealing on air at 800 C, there are always minor admixtures in oxide samples prepared from 1. Peculiarities of intrinsic thermal transformations of 1 and 2 affecting such difference have been revealed. Thus,