Crystal structure of bis{2-[(E)-(4-fluorobenzyl)iminomethyl]phenolato-κ2 N,O}nickel(II)

Abstract

The asymmetric unit of the title complex, [Ni(C14H11FNO)2], contains one-half of the molecule with the NiII cation lying on an inversion centre coordinated by a bidentate Schiff base anion. The cationic NiII center is in a distorted square-planar coordination environment chelated by the imine N and phenolate O donor atoms of the two Schiff base ligands. The N and O donor atoms of the two ligands are mutually trans with Ni-N and Ni-O bond lengths of 1.9242(10) and 1.8336(9)Å, respectively. The fluorophenyl ring is almost orthogonal to the coordination plane and makes a dihedral angle of 82.98(7)° with the phenolate ring. In the crystal, molecules are linked into screw chains by weak C-H⋯F hydrogen bonds. Additional C-H⋯π contacts arrange the molecules into sheets parallel to the ac plane.