cis-Dichloridobis(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-diol-kappa2N,N')manganese(II): a supramolecular chain formed via O-H...Cl bonds and aromatic stacking.

The title compound, [MnCl(2)(C(12)H(8)N(2)O(2))(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 pi-stacking between two antiparallel neighbouring 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-diol ligands also helps to stabilize the chain.