The crystal structure analysis of a dinuclear Rh(1) n-heterocyclic carbene complex

N-heterocyclic carbene complexes (NHCs), bound to a transition metal atom, bearing benzimidazole, imidazole and imidazoline rings that possess various biological activities have remarkable importance in organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis. After the first reports about the stability of the transition metal complexes of NHCs by H. -W. Wanzlick and K. Öfele independently from each other, the studies focused on these important type of carbene complexes. In the scope of this study, the molecular and crystal structure of 2,6-bis(1-pentamethylbenzyl-1-H-benzimidazole-2-yl) pyridine N-heterocyclic carbene complex have been carried out by using single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The title compound crystallizes in monoclinic cell setting with space group C12/c1. Direct methods and least-squares method are used in the crystal structure solution and refinement processes, respectively. The molecular geometry of the title compound is slightly distorted square-planar around the Rh atom center. The terdentate units act as bis-monodentate ligands resulting from the connection between the benzimidazole frameworks and [Rh(COD)Cl] units through the nitrogen atoms. There exist inter- and intra-molecular interactions of different types in the title compound. The effects of these interactions on the entire complex and their consequences are investigated and discussed in detail. Keywords: N-heterocyclic carbene complexes, benzimidazole, crystal structure.