Organic--inorganic hybrid hexachloridostannate( IV) with 2-methylimidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-ium cation.

The hybrid salt bis(2-methylimidazo[1,5-a]pyridin-2-ium) hexachloridostannate( IV), (C₈H₉N₂)₂[SnCl₆], crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with the asymmetric unit containing an Sn_0.5Cl₃ fragment (Sn site symmetry 1) and one organic cation. The five- and six-membered rings in the cation are nearly coplanar; bond lengths in the pyridinium ring of the fused core are as expected; the C--N/C bond distances in the imidazolium entity fall in the range 1.337 (5)-1.401 (5) Å. The octahedral SnCl₆^2- dianion is almost undistorted with the Sn--Cl distances varying from 2.4255 (9) to 2.4881 (8) Å and the cis Cl--Sn--Cl angles approaching 90°. In the crystal, π-stacked chains of cations and loosely packed SnCl₆^2- dianions form separate sheets alternating parallel to (101). Most of the numerous C--H• • •Cl--Sn contacts between the organic and inorganic counterparts with the H• • •Cl distances above the van der Waals contact limit of 2.85 Å are considered a result of crystal packing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]