Crystal structure of benzimidazolium salicylate

Abstract

In the anion of the title molecular salt, C7H7N2+·C7H5O3- (systematic name: 1H-benzimidazol-3-ium 2-hydroxybenzoate), there is an intramolecular O - H⋯O hydrogen bond that generates an S(6) ring motif. The CO2 group makes a dihedral angle of 5.33(15)° with its attached ring. In the crystal, the dihedral angle between the benzimidazolium ring and the anion benzene ring is 75.88(5)°. Two cations bridge two anions via two pairs of N - H⋯O hydrogen bonds, enclosing an R 4 4(16) ring motif, forming a four-membered centrosymmetric arrangement. These units are linked via C - H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming chains propagating along the b-axis direction. The chains are linked by C - H⋯π and π-π interactions [inter-centroid distances = 3.4156(7) and 3.8196(8)Å], forming a three-dimensional structure.