Diaquabis(propane-1,2-diamine-N,N')nickel(II) bis(p-toluenesulfonate)

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Ni(C(3)H(10)N(2))(2)(H(2)O)(2)](C(7)H(7)O(3)S)(2) or [Ni(H(2)O)(2)[NH(2)CH(2)CH(NH(2))CH(3)](2)](CH(3)C(6)H(4)SO(3))(2), exhibits a layered structure in which the complex cations and the p-toluenesulfonate anions form alternating layers. The central Ni(II) atom of the cation resides on a crystallographic inversion centre and has a slightly distorted octahedral coordination composed of the water ligands bonding through oxygen in a trans arrangement and the N,N'-bidentate propanediamine ligands. The p-toluenesulfonate anions are arranged with the sulfonate groups turned alternately towards opposite sides of the layers. The structure of the layers is stabilized by a network of hydrogen bonds between the sulfonate O atoms, water molecules and the propanediamine N atoms.