mu-1,4-benzenedicarboxylato-bis[trans-aqua(1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)nickel(II)] diperchlorate forms a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded framework

The title compound, [Ni-2(C8H4O4)(C10H24N4)(2)(H2O)(2)]-(ClO4)(2), contains two independent octahedral Ni II centres with trans-NiN4O2 chromophores. The bridging benzene-dicarboxylate ligand is bonded to the two Ni atoms, each via one O atom of each carboxylate, while the other O atom participates in an intramolecular N-H . . . O hydrogen bond, forming an S(6) motif. The cations are linked to the perchlorate anions via O-H . . . O and N-H . . . O hydrogen bonds [O . . . O 2.904 (6) and 2.898 (6) Angstrom; O-H . . . O 158 (6) and 165 (6)degrees; N . . . O 3.175 (7) and 3.116 (7) Angstrom; N-H . . . O 168 and 166 degrees] to form molecular ladders. These ladders are linked by further O-H . . . O and N-H . . . O hydrogen bonds [O . . . O 2.717 (6) and 2.730 (5) Angstrom; O-H . . . O 170 (4) and 163 (6)degrees; N . . . O 3.373 (7) and 3.253 (7) Angstrom; N-H . . . O 163 and 167 degrees] to form a continuous three-dimensional framework. The perchlorate anions both participate in three hydrogen bonds, and both are thus fully ordered.