trans-Bis­[N-(2-hydroxy­ethyl)­ethyl­ene­di­amine-κ²N,N′]­bis­(iso­thio­cyanato-κN)­nickel(II)

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Ni(NCS)₂(C₄H₁₂N₂O)₂], has two crystallographically independent half-mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit, with each Ni atom residing on a centre of symmetry. The two mol­ecules exhibit similar coordination geometry but display differences with regard to other structural features. Each Ni^II centre is octahedrally coordinated by two mutually trans chelating hydroxy­ethyl­ethyl­ene­di­amine ligands and two mutually trans iso­thio­cyanate ions. The two independent mol­ecules form chains through different types of non-covalent interactions. In the case of one of the mol­ecules, only NCS and free OH groups participate in hydrogen bonding, while in the chain based on the second mol­ecule, the NCS, NH, NH₂ and free OH groups are involved in intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The two chains interact with one another through hydrogen bonding, forming planar sheets. The third packing direction is mediated only by van der Waals interactions.