A neutral chiral mononuclear Ni(II) complex cis-[Ni(NCS)(2)(tren)] (1) [tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine] has been isolated in a reaction of nickel(II) salt with an achiral ligand tren and NH4SCN in a MeOH-H2O (1:1) mixture. The crystal structure of 1 reveals the encapsulation of Ni(II) ions in a facial {NiN6} coordination environment that includes four nitrogen donors from the tetradentate chelate tren and two nitrogen donors from two cis-NCS (monodentate) ligands. The chirality of I arises from symmetry breaking of the cis-(NCS)(2)-Ni(II) octahedral complex by the tetradentate chelate tren. Compound 1 exhibits both its enantiomers in a DMF solution through a Pfeiffer effect when l- and d-arabinose are used as environment substances. The particular synthesis, described herein, offers total spontaneous resolution, as is evidenced from crystal structure and circular dichroism spectral studies.