Hexaaquanickel(II) bis(hypophosphite)

The structure of hexaaquanickel(II) bis(hypophosphite), [Ni(H2O)(6)](H2PO2)(2), has been determined. The crystals are prismatic. The packing of the Ni and P atoms (not the entire hypophosphite anions) is the same as in the structures of [Co(H2O)(6)](H2PO2)(2) and [Co0.5Ni0.5(H2O)(6)](H2PO2)(2). The Ni II cations have a pseudo-face-centered cubic cell, with cell parameter asimilar or equal to10.216 Angstrom and tetrahedral cavities occupied by P atoms. The Ni II cation has crystallographically imposed twofold symmetry and has an octahedral coordination sphere consisting of six water O atoms, two of which also lie on the twofold axis. The planes of oppositely coordinated water molecules are in a cross conformation. The geometry of the hypophosphite anion is close to point symmetry mm2. The hypophosphite anions are hydrogen bonded to the coordinated water molecules.