Poly[aqua­(μ(2)-4,4′-bipyridine-κ(2) N:N′)(ethane-1,2-diol-κO)(μ(2)-sulfato-κ(2) O:O′)nickel(II)]

The title compound, [Ni(SO(4))(C(10)H(8)N(2))(C(2)H(6)O(2))(H(2)O)](n), contains two crystallographically unique Ni(II) atoms, each lying on a twofold rotation axis and having a slightly distorted octa­hedral environment. It is isotypic with the previously reported Cu(II) analog [Zhong et al. (2011 ▶). Acta Cryst. C67, m62–m64]. One Ni(II) atom is coordinated by two N atoms from two bridging 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4′-bipy) ligands, two O atoms from two sulfate ions and two aqua O atoms. The second Ni(II) atom is surrounded by two N atoms from 4,4′-bipy ligands and four O atoms, two from bridging sulfate ions and from two ethane-1,2-diol ligands. The sulfate anion acts as a bridging ligand, linking adjacent Ni(II) atoms, leading to the formation of linear ⋯Ni1—Ni2—Ni1—Ni2⋯ chains along the a-axis direction. Adjacent chains are further bridged by 4,4′-bipy ligands, resulting in a two-dimensional layered polymer parallel to (001). In the crystal, the polymeric layers are linked by extensive O—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions involving the O atoms of the water mol­ecules and the ethane-1,2-diol mol­ecules, resulting in a three-dimensional supra­molecular network.