Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of a nickel(III) maleonitriledithiolate complex using 1-methyl-3-benzylbenzimidazolium cation

A new ion-pair complex, 1-methyl-3-benzylbenzimidazolium bis(maleonitrile-dithiolato)nickelate(III), has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. In solid state, the Ni(mnt)2− anions and [MeBzBzim]+ cations are alternately stacked and form a one-dimensional (1D) column through π-π interactions between the plane of Ni(mnt)2− and the neighbored benzimidazole ring. The π-π interactions between adjacent cations and the weak interactions between adjacent anions further give rise to a three-dimensional supermolecular structure. The variable temperature magnetic susceptibilities investigation indicates that the π-π stacking interactions result in an antiferromagnetic exchange coupling between Ni(III) ions of the complex and the Neel temperature (TN) at 5.0 K is observed.