Di-μ-chlorido-bis{[2-({[2-(2-pyridyl)-ethyl](2-pyridylmethyl)amino}methyl)phenol]zinc(II)} bis(perchlorate) dihydrate

The title compound, [Zn(2)Cl(2)(C(20)H(21)N(3)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2)center dot 2H(2)O, consists of a dinuclear Zn(II) cationic complex, two disordered perchlorate anions and two water molecules as solvate. The [Zn(2)(mu-Cl)(2)(HL)(2)](2+) cation [HL is 2-({[2-(2-pyridyl) ethyl](2-pyridylmethyl)amino}methyl)phenol] has a centrosymmetric structure with the Zn(II) ions in a distorted octahedral environment surrounded by an N(3)OCl(2) donor set. HL acts as a tetradentate ligand through three N atoms from one amine group and two pyridyl arms and one O atom from the phenolic arm. The three N-donor sites of the HL ligand are arranged in meridional fashion, with the pyridine rings coordinated in trans positions with respect to each other. Consequently, the amine and phenol groups are trans to the asymmetric di-mu-chlorido exogenous bridges. A polymeric chain is formed along [010] by C(12)R(4)(2)(8) intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The perchlorate anion is disordered and was modelled by two sites in a 0.345 (18): 0.655 (18) ratio. Water-perchlorate O-H center dot center dot center dot O interactions form cyclic structures, while phenol-water O-H center dot center dot center dot O interactions generate an infinite chain. In addition, weak intermolecular C-H center dot center dot center dot pi(Ph) interactions between pyridine donor and phenol acceptor groups of neighboring cations build a two-dimensional polymeric structure parallel to (110).