Dependence on the reaction time of the coordination mode of 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(2-furanoylhydrazone), H2dapf,towards ZnCl2. Crystal and molecular structures of [ZnCl(H2dapf)(H2O)]Cl · 4H2O and [Zn(dapf)]2

ZnCl₂ reacts with the multidentate ligand 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(2-furanoylhydrazone), H₂dapf, to produce two complexes, ZnCl(H₂dapf)(H₂O)]Cl · 4H₂O and Zn(dapf)]₂, the predominant coordination mode of H₂dapf being influenced by the reaction time. The mononuclear and binuclear complexes were prepared by refluxing DMF/H₂O solutions of the reactants (1:1 molar ratio) for 3 and 6 h, respectively. The mononuclear complex possesses a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal (PBP) configuration, with the five ONNNO-donor atoms of the protonated H₂dapf ligand in the pentagonal plane, with the water molecule and the chloride ion positioned in the axial position. The binuclear complex has two equivalent pseudo-octahedral Zn^II centers, with the pyridyl nitrogen atoms of the two fully deprotonated ligands acting as bridges between the two metal atoms.