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.