The crystal structure and spectroscopic properties of catena- (2-methylimidazolium bis(μ2-chloro)-aqua-chloromanganese(II))

? novel manganese(II) coordination polymer, catena-(2- methylimidazolium bis(?2-chloro)-aqua-chloromanganese(II)), {(C4H7N2)[MnCl3(H2O)]}n, was synthesized, structurally characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis and EPR spectroscopy of the compound were also performed. The colourless crystals of the complex were monoclinic, space group P21/c, with the cell parameters a = 11.298(2) ?, b = 7.2485(14) ?, c = 14.709(5) ?, ? = 128.861(18)?, V = 938.0(5) ?3, Z = 4 and R1 = 0.03. The title compound consisted of onedimensional infinite anionic chains [MnCl3(H2O)]n and isolated 2- methylimidazolium cations. The Mn(II) atom was octahedrally coordinated to four bridging chloride anions [Mn-Cl = 2.5109(6) - 2.5688(7) ?], one terminal chloride anion [Mn-Cl = 2.5068(11) ?] and a H2O molecule [Mn-O = 2.2351(17) ?]. A three-dimensional layer structure was constructed via hydrogen bonds and by weak ?-? stacking interactions. A four-step thermal decomposition occurred in the temperature range 25-900?C under nitrogen.