Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Characterization of a Ni(II) Complex of Constructed 2,6-Bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine

A fluorescent Ni(II) complex 1, [Ni(OH-H(2)Bdc)(Bibimp)](n)center dot nH(2)O, constructed with 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid (OH-H(2)Bdc) and 2,6-bis(2-benzimidazolyl)pyridine) (Bibimp) has been synthesized by hydrothermal methods and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, TG/DTC; fluorescence spectrum and single-crystal X-ray diffiaction. The title complex crystallizes in triclinic system, space group P (1) over bar with a = 10.187(2), b = 10.273(2), c = 13.401(3) angstrom, alpha = 69.65(3), beta = 69.66(3), gamma = 70.61(3)degrees, V = 1196.8(4) angstrom(3), and Z = 2. The adjacent chains of complex 1 are stacked offset with respect to each other in an ABAB fashion by van der Waals interactions, and only a weak interlayer nonclassical C-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bond has been observed. Complex 1 displays strong blue fluorescent emissions at 483 nm in the solid state upon photo-excitation at 365 nm at room temperature.