A new synthetic route to Mg(2)Na(2)NiH(6) where a [NiH(4)] complex is for the first time stabilized by alkali metal counterions.

Mg2Na2NiH6 was synthesized by reacting NaH and Mg2NiH4 at 310 degrees C under hydrogen pressure. The novel structure type was refined from neutron-diffraction data in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (No. 62), with unit cell dimensions of a = 11.428(2), b = 8.442(2), and c = 5.4165(9) Angstrom and a unit cell volume = 523 Angstrom(3) (Z = 4). The structure can be described by (Mg2H2)(2+) layers intersected by (Na2NiH4)(2-) layers. The [NiH4](4-) complex is approximately tetrahedral, indicating formal zerovalent nickel. This is the first example of a solid-state hydride where a [NiH4](4-) complex is directly stabilized by alkali metal ions instead of the more polarizing Mg(2+) ions. A rather long nickel-hydrogen bond distance of 1.65 Angstrom indicates a weaker Ni-H bond as a result of the weaker support from the less polarizing alkali metal counterions.