Crystal structure, spectroscopy and magnetism of chlorobis(2,2′-biimidazole)oxovanadium(IV) chloride: the chloride anion as hydrogen bond acceptor forming infinite chains

The oxovanadium(IV) complex of formula [VOCl(H2biim)2]Cl (H2biim=2,2′-biimidazole) has been prepared and characterized by chemical analysis, single crystal X-ray diffraction, and IR and electronic spectroscopies. The crystal structure consists of chains of alternating [VOCl(H2biim)2]+ cations and Cl− anions, linked together by NH⋯Cl−⋯HN hydrogen bonds. The vanadium atom lies in a very distorted octahedral coordination. The magnetic moment and the EPR signal correspond to a d1 configuration without any magnetic interaction.