Synthesis and crystal structure of 2-chloromethyl-1H-benzimidazole nitrate, [ClCH2(C7H6N2)]NO3

The title compound [ClCH2(C7H6N2)]NO3 has been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis and X-ray studies. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n with a = 7.4189(3), b = 15.3064(6), c = 9.2657(3) Angstrom, beta = 102.449(2)degrees, C8H8ClN3O3, M-r = 229.62, V = 1027.44(7) Angstrom(3), Z = 4, D-c = 1.484 g/cm(3), F(000) = 472, mu = 0.363 mm(-1), R = 0.0671 and wR = 0.1546. The crystal structure consists of discrete 2-chloromethyl-1H-benzimidazole cations and NO3- anions. The benzimidazole ring with the conjunction carbon atom C(1) is fairly planar, with the deviation from the least plane through the ring atoms is smaller than 0.010(3) Angstrom. The analytical results of crystal structure show that three different non-covalent interactions in the compound, N-H...O intermolecular hydrogen bonds, C-H...O interaction and pi-pi stacking interaction, play an important role in the crystal packing.