Catena-Poly[heptylenediammonium [[tetrachloridobismuthate(III)]-μ- chlorido]]

The title organic-inorganic hybrid compound, {(C7H20N2)[BiCl5]} n , consists of distorted corner-joined [BiCl6] octahedra forming zigzag polymeric anionic chains parallel to [001], separated by columns of heptylenediammonium cations. The asymmetric unit contains two crystallographically independent bismuth metal atoms, one of which lies on an inversion centre and the other on a twofold axis. In the crystal, the polymeric chains and cations are linked by N - H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, forming undulating layers parallel to (110).