FORMATION OF A METALLOCYCLE BY DIMERIZATION OF ACRYLONITRILE - CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF THE HEXAKIS((1,4-DICYANOBUTANE-1,4-DIYL)NICKEL(II)) COMPLEX

A novel hexanickel(II) complex [Ni-6(NCCHCH2CH2CHCN)(6)] (2) with 1,4- dicyanobutane-1,4-diyl (L) which was produced by the metal-induced dim erization of acrylonitrile (AN) has been isolated and the structure ha s been determined crystallographically. Complex 2 is triclinic, space group P (1) over bar, a=9.998(2), b=10.363(2), c=9.960(3) Angstrom, al pha=110.35(2), beta=103.46(2), gamma=88.97(2)degrees U=938.7(4) Angstr om(3), Z=1, R=0.029 and R(w)=0.034. Each nickel atom is coordinated by two carbon atoms of L and two nitrogen atoms of the cyano group of tw o other L, providing a square-planar geometry. The six nickel atoms ar e bridged by the cyano group and carbon atom to form the slightly dist orted octahedral Ni-6 core.