Abstract
The title compound was synthesized and its crystal structure determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The complex crystallizes in space group P1, with a = 12.773(4), b = 11.421(3), c = 8.864(3) A; alpha = 106.37(5), beta = 78.56(5), gamma = 104.37(5) degrees. Full matrix least squares refinement of positional and thermal parameters for all atoms (3 methyl H atoms fixed), with 3610 reflections led to R = 0.044 and P sub (w) = 0.064. Both cation and anion occupy crystallographic centers of symmetry. In the cation, the beta-hydroxketone ligand is not planar; the hydroxyl oxygen atom and beta-carbon atom lie +0.40 and -0.38 A out of the plane containing Ni and the other ligans atoms. The Ni-O distances to the carbonyl and hydroxyl oxygen atoms are 1.895(3) and 1.927(3) A, respectively. The anion is trans-octahedral; Ni-N-C angles show large distortions from linearity: 160.7(3) and 163.9(3) degrees.