Di-μ-sulfato-bis[diaqua(1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline)nickel(II)] dihydrate

In the title compound, [Ni2(SO4)2(C13H8N4)2(H2O)4]·2H2O, the complete dimeric complex is generated by an inversion center. The NiII atoms are octahedrally coordinated by two N atoms from one 1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline (IP) ligand and two O atoms from two adjacent sulfate ions forming the equatorial plane, with two coordinated water molecules in the axial sites. Both of the sulfate ions act as bidentate-bridging ligands connecting the two NiII ions, thus generating a binuclear complex. In the crystal structure, O—H...O and O—H...N hydrogen bonds involving the coordinated and uncoordinated water molecules and N—H...O links lead to the formation of a two-dimensional sheet structure developing parallel to (010). Weak π–π stacking interactions [centroid–centroid separation = 3.613 (2) Å] between the IP ligands also occur