(Nitrato-κ²O,O′)bis­(1,10-phenanthroline-κ²N,N′)copper(II) tricyano­methanide

The title compound, [Cu(NO₃)(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂][C(CN)₃], is formed of discrete [Cu(NO₃)(phen)₂]⁺ complex cations (phen is 1,10-phenanthroline) and C(CN)₃⁻ counter-anions. The Cu^II atom has an asymmetric tetragonal–bipyramidal (4 + 1+1) stereochemistry with a pseudo-C₂ symmetry axis bis­ecting the nitrate ligand and passing through the Cu^II atom between the two phen ligands. The four N atoms of the phen ligands coordinate to the Cu^II atom with Cu—N distances in the range 1.974 (2)–2.126 (2) Å, while the two O atoms coordinate at substanti­ally different distances [2.154 (2) and 2.586 (2) Å]. The structure is stabilized by C—H...O hydrogen bonds and weak π–π inter­actions between nearly parallel benzene and pyridine rings of two adjacent phen mol­ecules, with centroid–centroid distances of 3.684 (2) and 3.6111 (2) Å, and between π-electrons of the tricyano­methanide anion and the pyridine or benzene rings [N...(ring centroid) distances = 3.553 (3)–3.875 (3) Å].