The two N donor atoms in the tertiary diamine N,N'-dimethyl-3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (dabn, C9H18N2) are ideally positioned in the bicyclic structure for chelation to a metal center. This feature was utilized to synthesize unusual diamine nickel(0)-ethene and -ethyne complexes, which represent limiting cases of the Pearson hard-soft acid-base concept. Thus, the reaction of Ni(C2H4)(3) With dabn affords yellow TP-3 (C9H18N2)Ni(C2H4) (1) (dec. 0 degrees C) in which the ethene ligand displays extreme high-field NMR shifts at delta(H) 0.27 and delta(C) 20.4 and an exceptionally small coupling constant (1)J(CH) = 142 Hz. Reaction of 1 with butadiene yields the red mononuclear T-4 complex (C9H18N2)Ni(eta(2)-C4H6)(2) (2a) in solution, from which the dinuclear derivative {(C9H18N2)Ni(eta(2)-C4H6)}(2)(mu-eta(2),eta(2)-C4H6) (2) (dec. 20 degrees C) is isolated. Complexes 2 and 2a are more soluble than 1 and thus better suited for further reactions. When ethyne is added to a solution of 2 or 2a at -78 degrees C, the yellow TP-3 complex (C9H18N2)Ni(C2H2) (3) (dec. -30 degrees C) is obtained. The ethyne ligand of 3 exhibits the lowest IR C=C stretching frequency (1560 cm(-1)) and by far the smallest NMR coupling constant (1)J(CH) = 178 Hz yet reported for a mononuclear nickel(0)-ethyne complex. In addition, Ni(CO)(4) reacts with dabn to yield orange T-4 (C9H18N2)Ni(CO)(2) (4) The results demonstrate that tertiary diamines, which are hard Lewis bases and which a priori are expected to coordinate poorly to the soft Lewis acid Ni(0), may be supported in such a coordination by the stabilizing principle of preorganization and consequently act as very powerful donor ligands.