The Structure of the Tetranuclear Cubane-Like Nickel(II) Xanthate Alkoxide [Ni(C2H5OCS2)-(C5H4NCH2O)]4 as Its Acetone Solvate, an Example of a Non-Reversible Inclusion Compound

The crystal structure of the acetone solvate of a mixed ligand tetranuclear nickel(II) complex involving the pyridine-2-methoxide ( pym ) and 0-ethylxanthate (exa) anions has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods. Crystals of [Ni (exa)( pym )]4.Me2CO are triclinic, space group Pī , a 13.825(2), b 15.606(3), c 12.288(2)Ǻ, α 101.16(2), β 101.38(1), γ 85.80(1)°, with Z 2; R and Rw were 0.056 and 0.057 respectively for 4,771 unique reflections for which I ≥ 3σ(I). The structure consists of tetranuclear cubane -like clusters with four nickel and four oxygen atoms arranged at alternate corners of a distorted cube. The discrete molecules of occluded acetone are located in cavities defined by the [Ni( exa )( pym )]4 units.