crystal structure of [2-({2-[(2-azanidylbenzylidene)amino]benzylidene}amino)-4-chlorophenolato]nickel(ii)

The title complex, [Ni(C20H14ClN3O)], with an asymmetrically chloride-appended Schiff base ligand has been synthesized and structurally characterized at 100 K. In the compound, the central nickel(II) ion has a square-planar coordination geometry with N3O donors of the π-conjugated tetradentate Schiff base ligand. In the crystal, the complexes are connected into an inversion dimer via an Ni...Ni interaction [3.1753 (5) Å] and a pair of π–π interactions [centroid–centroid distance = 3.8416 (16) Å]. The dimers are linked via a C—H...Cl hydrogen bond, forming a chain along the c-axis direction. The dimer chains interact with each other through π–π interactions [centroid–centroid distance = 3.8736 (16) Å], forming a layer expanding parallel to the ac plane.