Crystal structure of [2-({2-[(2-azanidylbenzylidene)amino]benzylidene}amino)-4-chlorophenolato]nickel(II)

The title complex, [Ni(C₂₀H₁₄ClN₃O)], with an asymmetrically chloride-appended Schiff base ligand has been synthesized and structurally characterized at 100K. In the compound, the central nickel(II) ion has a square-planar coordination geometry with N3O donors of the π-conjugated tetradentate Schiff base ligand. In the crystal, the complexes are connected into an inversion dimer via an Ni⋯Ni interaction [3.1753(5)Å] and a pair of π-π interactions [centroid-centroid distance = 3.8416(16)Å]. The dimers are linked via a C-H⋯Cl hydrogen bond, forming a chain along the c-axis direction. The dimer chains interact with each other through π-π interactions [centroid-centroid distance = 3.8736(16)Å], forming a layer expanding parallel to the ac plane.