Bis[1,2-bis­(3,5-di­methyl­phen­yl)ethyl­ene-1,2-di­thiol­ato(1−)]nickel(II)

Square-planar bis­[1,2-bis­(3,5-di­methyl­phen­yl)ethyl­ene-1,2-di­thiol­ato(1–)]nickel(II) crystallizes on an inversion center in monoclinic P2₁/c in a packing arrangement defined by a dense network of inter­molecular methyl C—H→π_arene hydrogen bonds.

The title compound, [Ni(C₁₈H₁₈S₂)₂], 1, crystallizes upon an inversion center in monoclinic P2₁/c with intra­ligand C—S and C—C_chelate bond lengths that are indicative of the radical monoanionic redox level for the di­thiol­ene ligand. The arene rings are canted at angles of 43.54 (4) and 71.36 (3)° with respect to the NiS₄ plane. Mol­ecules of 1 form columnar stacks along the a axis of the cell with a ∼59° angle between the mol­ecular plane and the stacking axis. Adjacent stacks alternate in the directionality of their cant relative to the stacking axis such that a 37.2° angle is defined by the core NiS₄ planes of mol­ecules from adjoining columns. Inter­molecular inter­actions are governed by methyl C—H→π_arene hydrogen bonds, with each mol­ecule enjoying four such inter­actions as acceptor and providing four such inter­actions as donor.