Synthesis, Complicated Weak Interactions, and Network Structure of a New Salt Containing Bis(iso-maleonitriledithiolato)nickel(II) Anion and Substituted Dipyridinium

Abstract

A new salt, [EtdiPy][Ni(i-mnt)2](1) (i-mnt = iso-maleonitriledithiolate, [EtdiPy]2+= 1,1′-ethylene-2,2′-dipyridinium) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis, EI-MS spectra, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. It is interesting that the [Ni(i-mnt)2]2− anions containing Ni(1) atom form a 1D chain by the π···π stacking interactions between the CN groups, while the anions containing Ni(2) atom form a ring structure through the S···N short interactions. The weak p···π and π···π stacking interactions, as well as C‒H···N and C‒H···S hydrogen bonds between the anions and the cations observed in the crystal, give further rise to a complicated network structure.