The spin gap system by self-assembly of benzyl-4-ethylpyridinium and bis(maleonitriledithiolate)niclelate(III) anion

The self-assembly of [BzEtPy]+([BzEtPy]+ = benzyl-4-ethylpyridinium) cation and the [Ni(mnt)2]− (mnt2− = maleonitriledithiolate) anion results in the forming of a new molecular solid [BzEtPy][Ni(mnt)2](1), in which the anions and cations stack into columns and the Ni(III) ions form a 1D zigzag alternating chain through Ni···S and π···π interactions between [Ni(mnt)2]− anions with the Ni···Ni distances of 3.886 Å and 4.781 Å, and the four columns of cations create cubic-like large channel in which the [Ni(mnt)2]− columns are located. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that 1 exhibits a spin gap transition around 90 K.