The nickel complexes [(dippe)Ni(eta(2)-O,C-benzophenone)] (2), [(dippe)Ni(eta(2)-O,C-4-methylbenzophenone)] (3), [(dippe)Ni(eta(2)-O,C-acetophenone)] (4), [(dippe)Ni(eta(2)-O,C-acetone)] (S), [(dippe)Ni(eta O-2,C-fluorenone)] (6), [(dippe)Ni(eta(2)-O,C-di(2-pyridyl) ketone)] (7a) [(dippe)Ni(kappa(2)-N,N-di(2-pyridyl) ketone)] (7b), [(dippe)Ni(kappa(2)-O,O-2,2'-pyridil)] (8), [(dippe)Ni(kappa(2)-O,O-benzil)] (9a), and [((dippe)Ni)(2)(eta(2)-O,C-benzil)] (9b) were prepared by the reaction of [(dippe)Ni(mu-H)](2) (1) with the corresponding ketone or 1,2-diketone at room temperature. The structures of compounds 2, 6, 9a and 9b were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The selective hydrogenation of the two types of substrates was undertaken using H-2, giving high conversions to the corresponding reduction products, either alcohols or alkanes. Tunable reaction conditions to promote the partial or total hydrogenation (hydrogenolysis) of the substrates are described. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.