A series of quinolinate nickel-tris(pyrazolyl)borate complexes [Ni(Tp*)(N,O-2,5,7-R 1 ,R 2 ,R 3 -8-hq)] {Tp* = hydrotris-(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate, 8-hq = 8-hydroxyquinoline} were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods. Single-crystal X-ray studies indicate that these complexes exhibit a pentacoordinate arrangement with chelating quinolinate and hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate ligands. The substituents on the quinolinate generate variations in the absorption and emission wavelengths. Substituents in the 5,7-positions and a 2-CN substituent in the quinolinate induce a bathochromic shift with respect to the unsubstituted derivative; however, 2-Me and 2-NH 2 substituents cause a blueshift. The UV/Vis spectra were investigated by time-dependent (TD)-DFT on the basis of the optimized [a]