Supramolecularly assembled tetrameric water cluster stabilized by a mixed complex of Ni(II) and 5-aminoisophthalate

► In this study 5-aminoisophthalato treated as a complementary ion. ► The interaction CH⋯π and π⋯π was observed in the three-dimensional supramolecular network. ► The unit cell dimensions of crystal structure were detected to be unusually large. In this study, a novel Ni(II)-5-aminoisophthalate (aip) complex with 5-methylimidazole (5-meim), [Ni(5-meim)6]2(aip)2⋅8H2O (1) has been synthesized. Elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, IR and UV–Vis. spectroscopic studies have been performed to characterize the compound. The molecular structure of 1 has been determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The complex consists of two hexa(5-methylimidazole)nickel(II) cations, two uncoordinated 5-aminoisophthalate anions and eight uncoordinated water molecules. The molecular structure of (1) has been determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. In (1) Ni(II) ion has distorted octahedral geometry. The complex (1) is further constructed to form three-dimensional framework by hydrogen bonding, CH⋯π and π⋯π stacking interactions.