catena-Poly[(dichloridozinc)-μ-1-{4-[(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]benzyl}-1H-imidazole-κ2 N 3:N 3′]

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [ZnCl2(C14H14N4)]n, contains a ZnII ion situated on a twofold rotation axis and one-half of a 1-{4-[(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]benzyl}-1H-imidazole (L) ligand with the benzene ring situated on an inversion center. The ZnII ion is coordinated by two chloride anions and two N atoms from two L ligands in a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The L ligands bridge ZnCl2 fragments into polymeric chains parallel to [20-1].

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [ZnCl 2 -(C 14 H 14 N 4 )] n , contains a Zn II ion situated on a twofold rotation axis and one-half of a 1-{4-[(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]benzyl}-1H-imidazole (L) ligand with the benzene ring situated on an inversion center. The Zn II ion is coordinated by two chloride anions and two N atoms from two L ligands in a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The L ligands bridge ZnCl 2 fragments into polymeric chains parallel to [201].

Related literature
For the synthesis of the ligand, see: Yang et al. (2006).

Experimental
The 1-[4-[(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]benzyl] -1H-imidazole was synthesized following the reference method (Yang et al., 2006). Synthesis of the title compound: ligand (0.120 g, 0.5 mmol) and ZnCl 2 (0.080 g, 0.5 mmol) were dissolved in a mixed solution of 4 mL ethanol and 4 mL water. After stirring, the suspension was sealed in a 18 mL Teflon-lined autoclave and heated at 140 °C for 5 days. After slow cooling to room temperature, colorless block crystals were filtered and washed with distilled water (52% yield based on Zn).

Refinement
C-bound H atoms were placed in calculated positions and treated as riding on their parent atoms, with C-H = 0.93 Å (aromatic); C-H = 0.97 Å (methylene), and with U iso (H) = 1.2U eq (C).

Figure 2
A portion of the polymeric chain in the title compound. H atoms omitted for clarity.

catena-Poly[(dichloridozinc)-µ-1-{4-[(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]benzyl}-1H-imidazole-κ 2 N 3 :N 3′ ]
Crystal data where P = (F o 2 + 2F c 2 )/3 (Δ/σ) max = 0.001 Δρ max = 0.20 e Å −3 Δρ min = −0.29 e Å −3 Special details Geometry. All esds (except the esd in the dihedral angle between two l.s. planes) are estimated using the full covariance matrix. The cell esds are taken into account individually in the estimation of esds in distances, angles and torsion angles; correlations between esds in cell parameters are only used when they are defined by crystal symmetry. An approximate (isotropic) treatment of cell esds is used for estimating esds involving l.s. planes. Refinement. Refinement of F 2 against ALL reflections. The weighted R-factor wR and goodness of fit S are based on F 2 , conventional R-factors R are based on F, with F set to zero for negative F 2 . The threshold expression of F 2 > 2sigma(F 2 ) is used only for calculating R-factors(gt) etc. and is not relevant to the choice of reflections for refinement. R-factors based on F 2 are statistically about twice as large as those based on F, and R-factors based on ALL data will be even larger.