Infrared and laser Raman spectra of [Ni(II)(diars)
2X]X, (X
Cl, Br and I) have been used as probes to determine the structures of chelated diarsine molecules. It has been observed that the effects of metal chelation and coordination geometry give rise to frequency shifts in these complexes. The variation in vibrational spectroscopic features indicates reduction in the symmetry of the complexes in the crystalline environment. The effect of halogen on the Ni–halogen stretching frequency of these square pyramidal complexes is not as significant as observed in the case of octahedral complexes.