Bis­[1‐(4‐chloro­benzyl)‐3‐methyl­pyrazinium] bis­(maleo­nitrile­di­thiol­ato)­nickelate(II)

The synthesis and crystal structure of the novel ion‐pair title complex, (C12H12ClN2)2[Ni(C4N2S2)2] or [ClBzMePz]2[Ni(mnt)2] [where ClBzMePz is 1‐(4‐chloro­benzyl)‐3‐methyl­pyrazinium and mnt is maleo­nitrile­di­thiol­ate], is reported. The structural study shows that the asymmetric unit consists of one cation and one‐half of an anion; the Ni atom lies at a centre of symmetry. The [ClBzMePz]+ ion adopts an essentially planar conformation where both the phenyl ring and the pyrazine ring are twisted with respect to the plane of the C—N—C chain which links them. It is worth noting that the anions and cations of the title complex stack in well‐separated columns, and the intermolecular contacts between anions and cations observed in the crystal structure may play an important role in the crystal packing.