Crystals of 4-(2-benzimidazole)-1,2,4-triazole and its hydrate: preparations, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surfaces analysis

Abstract

Single crystals of compound L (C9H7N5): 4-(2-benzimidazole)-1,2,4-triazole and its hydrate were obtained via slow evaporation. The structures of the crystals were characterized by IR, TGA/DSC and X-ray diffraction analysis. Molecules in crystal 1 are linked by a combination of N–H···N and C–H···N hydrogen bonds into 2D layers, and further stacked into a 3D structure by π···π stacking interactions. Compared to crystal 1, the water molecules play a key role in the construction of the crystal structure of hydrate 2. The 2D layers were formed via O–H···N, O–H···O, N–H···N hydrogen bonds, and further stacked by O–H···O hydrogen bonds and π···π stacking interactions in crystal 2. A detailed analysis of the intermolecular interactions and crystal packing via Hirshfeld surface analysis and fingerprint plots reveals that the structures are stabilized mainly by N···H/H···N, C···H/H···C hydrogen bonds, H···H weak interactions and π···π stacking interactions.