title: catena-Poly[[zinc(II)-bis-[μ-1,3-bis-(imidazol-1-ylmeth-yl)benzene-κN:N]] dinitrate methanol solvate].
abstract: In the title coordination compound, {[Zn(C(14)H(14)N(4))(2)](NO(3))(2)·CH(3)OH}(n), the cationic complex forms a looped chain containing 24-membered M(2)L(2) rings. The ligand adopts two distinct conformations that are alternated in subsequent loops. The Zn(II) ion displays a slightly distorted tetra-hedral geometry being coordinated by four N atoms from four 1,3-bis-(imidazol-1-ylmeth-yl)benzene ligands. The nitrate ions and methanol solvent mol-ecules are located between adjacent double-stranded chains and participate in an extensive net of O-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The resulting three-dimensional assembly is further stabilized by π-π inter-actions between benzene rings [centroid-centroid distances = 3.878 (2) and 3.853 (2) Å].
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dobrzańska