cis‐Dichloridobis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐diol‐κ2N,N′)manganese(II): a supramolecular chain formed via O—H...Cl bonds and aromatic stacking

The title compound, [MnCl₂(C₁₂H₈N₂O₂)₂], displays a novel supramolecular chain formed by intermolecular O—H...Cl hydrogen bonds and aromatic stacking. The molecule has crystallographically imposed twofold symmetry with the Mn^II atom on the twofold axis. In the 1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐diol ligand, each H atom of the two hydroxy groups is oriented towards the other hydroxy O atom. Both hydroxy groups form intermolecular O—H...Cl hydrogen bonds with a single Cl atom of an adjacent molecule. These hydrogen bonds connect the molecules via operation of the molecular twofold axis and the centre of inversion of the crystal lattice, forming a doubly‐bridged one‐dimensional structure with Mn atoms as the nodes. Strong aromatic π‐stacking between two antiparallel neighbouring 1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐diol ligands also helps to stabilize the chain.