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, (C24H19N4)2[ZnCl4]3·H2O or (ITPH3)2[ZnCl4]3·H2O, where (ITPH3)3+ is the triply protonated cation derived from 4'-(isoquinolin-4-yl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (ITP) [Granifo et al. (2016). Acta Cryst. C72, 932-938]. The (ITPH3)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.