Two three‐dimensional networks in the binary molecular adducts 4‐methylimidazolium hydrogen terephthalate and bis(4‐methylimidazolium) terephthalate

Both the 1:1 and 2:1 molecular adducts of 4‐methylimidazole (4‐MeIm) and terephthalic acid (H₂TPA) are organic salts, viz. C₄H₇N₂⁺·C₈H₅O₄^?, (I), and 2C₄H₇N₂⁺·C₈H₄O₄^2?, (II), respectively. The component ions in (I) are linked by N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds into continuous two‐dimensional layers built from R₆⁴(32) hydrogen‐bond motifs running parallel to the (100) plane. These adjacent two‐dimensional layers are in turn linked by a combination of C—H...O, C—H...π and π–π interactions into a three‐dimensional network. In the crystal structure of (II), with the anion located on an inversion centre, only N—H...O hydrogen bonds result in two‐dimensional layers built from R₈⁸(42) hydrogen‐bond motifs running parallel to the (102) plane. Being similar to those in (I), these layers are also linked by means of C—H...O, C—H...π and π–π interactions, forming a three‐dimensional network. This study indicates that, on occasion, a change of the reactant concentration can exert a pivotal influence on the construction of supramolecular structures based on hydrogen bonds.