Crystallographic and computational study of a network composed of [ZnCl4]2− anions and triply protonated 4′-functionalized terpyridine cations

We report herein the synthesis, crystallographic analysis and a study of the noncovalent interactions observed in the new 4′-substituted terpyridine-based derivative bis[4′-(isoquinolin-2-ium-4-yl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-1,1′′-diium] tris[tetrachloridozincate(II)] monohydrate, (C 24 H 19 N 4 ) 2 [ZnCl 4 ] 3 ·H 2 O or (ITPH 3 ) 2 [ZnCl 4 ] 3 ·H 2 O, where (ITPH 3 ) 3+ is the triply protonated cation derived from 4′-(isoquinolin-4-yl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine (ITP) [Granifo et al. (2016). Acta Cryst. C 72 , 932–938]. The (ITPH 3 ) 3+ cation presents a number of interesting similarities and differences compared with its neutral ITP relative, mainly in the role fulfilled in the packing arrangement by the profuse set of D —H... A [ D (donor) = C, N or O; A (acceptor) = O or Cl], π–π and anion...π noncovalent interactions present. We discuss these interactions in two different complementary ways, viz. using a point-to-point approach in the light of Bader's theory of Atoms In Molecules (AIM), analyzing the individual significance of each interaction, and in a more `global' analysis, making use of the Hirshfeld surfaces and the associated enrichment ratio (ER) approach, evaluating the surprisingly large co-operative effect of the superabundant weaker contacts.