Di-μ-chlorido-bis[chlorido(4′-p-tolyl-2,2′:6′,2"-terpyridine-κ3N,N′,N")nickel(II)]: a supramolecular system constructed by C-H•••Cl interactions

The title complex, [Ni2Cl4(C22H17N3)(2)], was synthesized solvothermally. The molecule is a centrosymmetric dimer with the unique Ni-II centre in a distorted octahedral N3Cl3 coordination environment. The chloride bridges are highly asymmetric. In the 4'-p-tolyl-2,2':6',2 ''-terpyridine ligand, the p-tolyl group is perfectly coplanar with the attached pyridine ring, and this differs from the situation found in previously reported compounds; however, there are no pi-pi interactions between the ligands. The terminal Cl atom forms four intermolecular C-H center dot center dot center dot Cl hydrogen bonds with one methyl and three methine groups. The methyl group also forms intermolecular C-H center dot center dot center dot pi interactions with a pyridine ring. These nonclassical hydrogen bonds extend the molecule into a three-dimensional network.