A spin gap transition around 230 K observed in a new Ni(mnt)2-based molecular solid containing 1-(4′-nitrobenzyl)isoquinolinium

A organic cation, [NO2BzIQl]+([NO2BzIQl]+ = 4-nitrobenzylisoquinolinium), that acts as a courterion in assembling image (mnt2− = maleonitriledithiolate), results in the forming of a new molecular solid [NO2BzIQl][Ni(mnt)2] (1) in which the anions and cations stack into columns in the solid state and the Ni(III) ions form a 1D zigzag alternating chain through Ni⋯S and π⋯π interactions between anions with the Ni⋯Ni distances of 3.907 Å and 3.977 Å within a Ni(mnt)2 column. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that 1 exhibits a spin gap transition with a second-order characteristic by DSC determination around 230 K.