in neat (no solvent) byproducts: CH4, C2H6, C3H6; Ni complex placed in Schlenk vessel at -60 °C, thermolysis carried out under Ar with oil pump vac. slowly increasing temp. from -60 to 80 °C; other by-products; not isolated, monitored by mass spectroscopy; (CpNi)3CH isolated - solid after termolysis washed many times with Et2O, dried in vac., added toluene, filtered, ppt. washed with toluene, (CpNi)3CH obtained by evapn. of filtrate in vac.; elem. anal.;