Hexaaquanickel(II) bis(hypophosphite).

The structure of hexaaquanickel(II) bis(hypophosphite), [Ni(H(2)O)(6)](H(2)PO(2))(2), has been determined. The crystals are prismatic. The packing of the Ni and P atoms (not the entire hypophosphite anions) is the same as in the structures of [Co(H(2)O)(6)](H(2)PO(2))(2) and [Co(0.5)Ni(0.5)(H(2)O)(6)](H(2)PO(2))(2). The Ni(II) cations have a pseudo-face-centered cubic cell, with cell parameter a approximately= 10.216 A and tetrahedral cavities occupied by P atoms. The Ni(II) cation has crystallographically imposed twofold symmetry and has an octahedral coordination sphere consisting of six water O atoms, two of which also lie on the twofold axis. The planes of oppositely coordinated water molecules are in a cross conformation. The geometry of the hypophosphite anion is close to point symmetry mm2. The hypophosphite anions are hydrogen bonded to the coordinated water molecules.