, with cell constants a = 8.14(2) Angstrom, b = 13.85(2) Angstrom, c = 15.67(2) Angstrom, alpha = 113.59(10)degrees, beta = 101.84(14)degrees, gamma = 94.0(2)degrees, V = 1561.620(0) Angstrom(3), Z = 2, R = 0.072, and R(W) = 0.077. In all Ni-1 serves as a bidentate metallothiolate ligand with a ''hinge'' angle in the range 105-118 degrees and Ni-M distances of 2.7-3.7 Angstrom. The most accessible redox event is shown by EPR and electrochemistry to reside in the N2S2Ni unit and is the N-II/I couple, Charge neutralization of the thiolate sulfurs by metalation can (dependent on the interacting metal) stabilize the Ni-1 state as efficiently as methylation forming a thioether, The implication of these results for the heterometallic active site of [NiFe]hydrogenase as structured from Desulfovibrio gigas (Volbeda, A., et al. Nature, 1995, 373, 580), the generality of the Ni(mu-SR)(2)M hinge structure, and a possible explanation for the unusual redox potentials are discussed.