Crystal structure of cis-[Rh(biq)₂Cl₂]Cl·3H₂O: Solid-state characterization and crystal packing analysis

The title compound, cis-[Rh(biq)₂Cl₂]Cl·3H₂O (biq = 2,2′-biquinoline) crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2 ₁ /n with a = 11.231(2) Å, b = 20.895(4) Å, c = 14.081(3) Å, β = 94.76(3)°, V = 3293.0(11) ų, D _c = 1.565 g cm⁻³, μ = 0.806 mm⁻¹, F(000) = 1576 and Z = 4. It contains a monomeric [Rh(biq)₂Cl₂]⁺ cation, a chloride ion and three molecules of H₂O. The rhodium(III) ion is hexa coordinated forming a distorted octahedral arrangement. The mean Rh(III)–N distance for the four Rh(III)–N bonds is 2.0625 Å. The two chloride atoms are bonded in a cis configuration [Rh(III)–Cl bond distances are 2.329(3) and 2.341(4) Å]. The structure shows a curling stacks of cationic complexes interacting via offset-face-to-face (OFF) π–π aryl interaction motif. Water molecules and chloride ions are hydrogen bonded (H₂O···H–OH and Cl···H–OH) and links the curling stacks by hydrogen bonding via Rh–Cl···H–OH interactions.