Two polymorphs Ni(II) complexes containing the dicyanamide ligand: syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of {[Ni(meso-CTH)(μ1,5-dca)]ClO4}n and [Ni(meso-CTH)][Ni(meso-CTH)(dca)2](ClO4)2 (dca=dicyanamide; CTH=meso-5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11

Two polymorphs Ni(II) complexes {[Ni(meso-CTH)(μ1,5-dca)]ClO4}n (1) and [Ni(meso-CTH)][Ni(meso-CTH)(dca)2](ClO4)2 (2) have been obtained in the same synthesis from dicyanamide (dca) and [Ni(meso-CTH)](ClO4)2 and have been characterized by X-ray crystallography and magnetic measurements. Complex 1 is a 1D cationic polymeric zig-zag chain with single end-to-end dca bridges connecting Ni(II) ions in trans positions, whereas in compound 2 coexist two different types of Ni(II) mononuclear units, cationic square-planar and neutral octahedral. Variable-temperature magnetic measurements reveal weak ferromagnetic interactions across the single end-to-end dca bridges in 1, while for 2 the magnetic behaviour agrees with that expected for isolated octahedral Ni(II) ions with a significant zero-field splitting.