A new tripodal ligand, 1,1,1-tris (3-(2-benzimidazole)-2-oxa-propyl) propane (L), and its complex with Ni(NO_3)_2 have been synthesized, and its crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. The crystal belongs to monoclinic system, P2_l/n space group with a = 1.2151 (4), M_r = 1.2151(4) nm, b = 1.5535(5) nm, c = 2.1740(7) nm, β = 90.551(18)°, V = 4.103(2) nm~3, Z = 4, M_r = 834.03, R = 0.0556, wR = 0.1256, μ = 0.541 mm~(-1), F(000) = 1758 for 7091 unique reflections. The complex cation [NiL]~(2+) has a distorted octahedral geometry. Each cation is formed through six coordinations to Ni~(2+) of all three pairs of oxygens and nitrogens from the ligand.

Key words: BENZIMIDAZOLE, PROPANE P, NICKEL, CRYSTAL STRUCTURE, HYDROGEN BONDS