Various synthetic attempts to prepare nickel(II) dimers of form [{Ni(L)₂Cl}₂]X₂ where L is a substituted ethane-1,2-diamine will be reported. One of these attempts produced light-blue crystalline plates which proved to be trans-[Ni(N,N-dmen)₂(H₂O)₂]Cl₂•2H₂O where N,N-dmen is N,N-dimethylethane-1,2-diamine. X-ray structural analysis shows the material to be monoclinic, space group P2₁/n with a= 7.4277(10)Å, b= 13.003(2)Å, c= 9.5483(15)Å, and β= 107.787(7)°. The structure was refined on F² to a final R value of .042 and R_w value of .090 for 3323 total reflections. The title complex consists of two chloride ions, two water molecules and a complex dication. The nickel(II) center is pseudo-octahedral six-coordinate, with a trans geometry and is located on an inversion center.