Abstract

The crystal structure of the compound [Ni(H₂O)₄(4-CNpy)₂](BPh₄)₂·2(4-CNpy)·4H₂O (1) containing a substituted pyridine ligand, 4-CNpy (4-cyanopyridine), has been studied. It has been prepared by a self-assembly reaction between nickel(II) acetate with 4-cyanopyridine carried out in the presence of tetraphenylborate anions. All four water molecules and the pyridyl-N bound 4-CNpy ligands of the dicationic trans-[Ni(H₂O)₄(4-CNpy)₂]²⁺ complexes participate in hydrogen-bonding interactions in tandem with the 4-CNpy and H₂O molecules present in the crystal lattice to form a supramolecular 3-D network with large pores partially occupied by the bulky BPh₄⁻ ions. The analogous Co(II) and Mn(II) species [Co(H₂O)₄(4-CNpy)₂](BPh₄)₂·2(4-CNpy)·4H₂O (2) and [Mn(H₂O)₄(4-CNpy)₂](BPh₄)₂·2(4-CNpy)·4H₂O (3) have also been made.