. Can. J. Chem. 52.2990Chem. 52. (1974.The reactions of divalent Co, Ni, Cu, Pd, and Pt chlorides with NaBH, and NaBH,CN in the presence of tertiary phosphines under inert atmosphere conditions have been examined. The nature of the product varies enormously depending upon reaction conditions, and compounds obtained include complexes involving coordinated BH,-and BH,CN-of the type ML,, MBL,, and MHBL, (L = phosphine, B = BH,-or BH3CN-, n = 2, 3, or 4'). The first univalent nickel and cobalt BH, complexes are reported. Platinum abstracts the C N group from BH,CN-to form the species PtH(CN)L,. I~f r a r e d spectral data are reported and appear to indicate two types of bonding (M-N and M-H) between BH,CN-and metals. Some electronic reflectance spectra and magnetic properties are also reported, including those of Co(1) and Ni(1) species. Attempts are made to rationalize the data in terms of a suggested mechanism for the reduction of metal halides by NaBH,.