Bis{2‐[(phenylimino)ethyl]‐1H‐pyrrol‐1‐ido‐κ2N,N′}nickel(II): a supramolecular structure formed by C—H...π hydrogen bonds

In the title compound, [Ni(C₁₂H₁₁N₂)₂], the Ni^II cation lies on an inversion centre and has a square‐planar coordination geometry. This transition metal complex is composed of two deprotonated N,N′‐bidentate 2‐[(phenylimino)ethyl]‐1H‐pyrrol‐1‐ide ligands around a central Ni^II cation, with the pyrrolide rings and imine groups lying trans to each other. The Ni—N bond lengths range from 1.894 (3) to 1.939 (2) Å and the bite angle is 83.13 (11)°. The Ni—N(pyrrolide) bond is substantially shorter than the Ni—N(imino) bond. The planes of the phenyl rings make a dihedral angle of 78.79 (9)° with respect to the central NiN₄ plane. The molecules are linked into simple chains by an intermolecular C—H...π interaction involving a phenyl β‐C atom as donor. Intramolecular C—H...π interactions are also present.