In this experiment, students perform an air-free synthesis of three dichlorophosphinenickel(II) compounds, NiCl[subscript 2](PPh[subscript 3])[subscript 2], NiCl[subscript 2](PCy[subscript 3])[subscript 2], and NiCl[subscript 2](DPPE), using NiCl[subscript 2]·6H[subscript 2]O and the appropriate phosphine as the precursors. These colorful nickel compounds are air-sensitive in solution, but are stable toward air once isolated in the solid form. The synthesized nickel products will be utilized in a catalytic Suzuki cross-coupling reaction between phenylboronic acid and 1-bromo-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene. The formation of the desired product, 4-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl, is observed and determined quantitatively by [superscript 19]F{[superscript 1]H} NMR spectroscopy. The effect of the phosphine ligands on the formation of the nickel products and their catalytic activity will also be determined.