Insights into the van der Waals Radius of Low-Spin Ni(ii) fromMolecular Mechanics Studies and the Crystal Structures of [Ni(cis-cyclohexane-1,3-diamine)2]Cl2, [Ni{(R)-5,5,7-trimethyl-1,4-diazacycloheptane}2]Cl2·H2O and [Ni(5,7-dimethyl-1,4-diazacycloheptane)2](ClO4)2. Synthesis of 5,7-Dimethyl-1,4-diazacycloheptane and an Improved Synthesis of cis-Cyclohexane-1,3-diamine

Abstract

The structures of three bis(diamine)nickel(II) complexes, chosen to shed light on the van der Waals radius of nickel(II), are described. [Ni(cis-1,3-chxn)2]Cl2 (cis-1,3-chxn = cis-cyclohexane-1,3-diamine) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n, with a 6.397(2), b 16.463(4), c 7.229(2) Å, b 90.70(2)�, and its structure has been refined to an R value of 0.031 on 1214F. [Ni{(R)-tmdz}2]Cl2�H2O (tmdz = 5,5,7-trimethyl-1,4-diazacycloheptane) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121, with a 10.678(1), b 11.073(5), c 17.968(6) Å, and its structure has been refined to an R value of 0.031 on 1586F. [Ni(dmdz)2](ClO4)2 (dmdz = 5,7-dimethyl-1,4-diaza- cycloheptane) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n, with a 9.582(1), b 10.390(2), c 11.817(3) Å, β 96.19(2)�, and its structure has been refined to an R value of 0.059 on 817F. In all three structures, short Ni���H and Ni���C interactions, ranging from 2.37 to 2.61 Å and 2.99 to 3.03 Å, respectively, are observed. Using molecular mechanics modelling to reproduce these separations, we have arrived at a van der Waals radius of 1.35 Å for low-spin nickel(ii). Analysis of Ni���O contacts in the solid state leads to a van der Waals radius of about 1.26 Å, which is consistent with the molecular mechanics derived value since these are usually longer.

Structural Characterization of Thermochromic and Spin Equilibria in Solid-State Ni(detu)4Cl2 (detu = N,N′-Diethylthiourea)

“…Four equatorial Ni–S bonds averaged to 2.226(3) Å, the four S–Ni–S cis angles to 89(1)°, and the two trans angles to 163(3)° (Table ). The nickel atom was displaced 0.334 Å above the least-squares (S) 4 plane toward a proximal chloride disposed directly over an axial site at a Ni1···Cl1 distance of 3.134(1) Å; this separation is equivalent to the sum of van der Waals radii for chloride (1.75 Å) and low-spin nickel­(II) (1.35 Å), so a Ni–Cl covalent bond is not indicated. The second distal chloride was positioned on the opposing axial vector at a Ni1···Cl2 separation of 7.222(2) Å and a Cl1···Ni···Cl2 angle of 177.94(3)°.…”