Crystal structure of bis{2-[(E)-(4-fluorobenzyl)iminomethyl]phenolato-kappa(2) N, O}nickel(II)

The asymmetric unit of the title complex, [Ni(C14H11FNO)(2)], contains one-half of the molecule with the Ni-II cation lying on an inversion centre coordinated by a bidentate Schiff base anion. The cationic Ni-II center is in a distorted squareplanar coordination environment chelated by the imine N and phenolate O donor atoms of the two Schiff base ligands. The N and O donor atoms of the two ligands are mutually trans with Ni-N and Ni-O bond lengths of 1.9242 (10) and 1.8336 (9) angstrom, respectively. The fluorophenyl ring is almost orthogonal to the coordination plane and makes a dihedral angle of 82.98 (7)degrees with the phenolate ring. In the crystal, molecules are linked into screw chains by weak C-H center dot center dot center dot F hydrogen bonds. Additional C-H center dot center dot center dot pi contacts arrange the molecules into sheets parallel to the ac plane.