A tetranuclear nickel(ii) complex assembled from an asymmetric compartmental ligand and bearing an intramolecular [H3O2]– bridge

The asymmetric di-aminic compartmental ligand HL5 forms a tetranuclear nickel(II) complex in which the core is assembled from two confacial bioctahedra [Ni⋯Ni, ∼2.90 Å]; the open faces of the bioctahedra are joined at the O atoms of two μ-cresolato bridges [Ni⋯Ni, 3.72 Å], and the shared faces of the bioctahedra are linked by a tetradentate (μ4,η2)-perchlorate anion and by an unusual tetradentate (μ4,η2)-[H3O2]− bridge.