1,2‐Bis[(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)sulfanyl]ethane and its dimorphic hydrochloride salt

Although having been described as a liquid in the literature for 41 years, 1,2‐bis(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)sulfanyl]ethane, C₁₄H₁₆N₂S₂, (I), has now been obtained as monoclinic crystals via a new and convenient method of purification. Molecules of (I) are located on crystallographic inversion centres and are held together by C—H...N and C—H...S interactions, resulting in the formation of a three‐dimensional network structure. In addition, two polymorphs of the corresponding hydrochloride salt, 2‐({2‐(pyridin‐1‐ium‐2‐ylmethyl)sulfanyl]ethyl}sulfanyl)methyl]pyridin‐1‐ium dichloride, C₁₄H₁₈N₂S₂²⁺·2Cl^?, (II) and (III), have been isolated. Molecules of (II) and (III) have similar conformations and are located on inversion centres. Both polymorphs form three‐dimensional networks through N—H...Cl, C—H...Cl and C—H...S interactions. The structure of (III) displays voids of 35 ų.