Syntheses of [Ni-2(dien)(2)(NCS)(4)(H2O)] and [Ni(aepn)(NCS)(2)](n)(dien=bis(2-aminoethyl)amine and aepn=N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,3-propanediamine): Single crystal structure analysis and thermal behaviour in the solid state

[Ni-2(dien)(2)(NCS)(4)(H2O)] (1) and [Ni(aepn)(NCS)(2)](n) (2) (where dien = bis(2-aminoethyl)amine and aepn = N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,3-propanediamine) have been synthesised from solution. Single crystal X-ray structure analyses of 1 and 2 reveal that the metal atoms in both the complexes display distorted octahedral geometry with the triamine coordinating facially in 1 and meridionally in 2. The dinuclear [Ni-2(dien)(2) (NCS)(4)(H2O)] unit in 1 is bridged aia a thiocyanate moiety while in 2 the nickel(II) octahedra form a polymeric chain. The species 1 on deaquation at similar to 165 degrees C followed by cooling yields a conglomerated mass (1a). The species 2 melts at similar to 230 degrees C which on cooling yields conglomerated mass (2a). Both 1a and 2a are amorphous; the former reverts to 1 in a humid atmosphere. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd