The reaction of Zn(ClO4)2·6H2O with 3,3'-bis(2-benzimidazolyl)-2,2'-dipyridine (L) gave a mononuclear zinc(II) complex: [ZnL2](ClO4)2·2DMF·4H2O, which was structurally characterized by EA, IR, UV, 1H NMR, fluorescence spectrum and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal (C54H54Cl2N14O14Zn, Mr = 1259.38) belongs to the monoclinic system, space group C2/c with a = 20.874(2), b = 14.9953(16), c = 20.462(3) , β = 101.553(2)°, V = 6274.8(13) 3, Z = 4, Dc = 1.333 g/cm3, F (000) = 2608, μ(MoKα) = 0.548 mm–1, R = 0.0682 and wR = 0.1931 for 4984 observed reflections with I > 2σ(I). The Zn(II) is four-coordinated in a slightly distorted tetrahedral geometry through four N atoms from four benzimidazole units of two ligands. In the crystal lattice, the [ZnL2]2+ cations are linked to each other by extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonds between nitrogen atoms of benzimidazole rings, water and DMF molecules.
