A novel pentacoordinated cadmium compound: catena-poly[benzyltriethylammonium [[chloridocadmate(II)]-di-μ-chlorido]].

The structure of the title one-dimensional ABX3-type organic-inorganic hybrid complex, {(C13H22N)[CdCl3]}n, consists of benzyltriethylammonium cations and one-dimensional anionic {[CdCl3](-)}n chains, in which the Cd(II) centres are in an unusual two-layer five-coordinated arrangement. The Cd(II) atom is pentacoordinated by four bridging and one terminal chloride ligand, forming a slightly distorted trigonal bipyramidal ClCd(μ-Cl)4 arrangement. The trigonal bipyramid is linked by two opposite shared faces, giving rise to a zigzag linear anionic {[CdCl3](-)}n chain. The benzyltriethylammonium cations are located in the inter-space of the inorganic network. There are C-H···Cl hydrogen bonds present and these play a crucial role in linking the organic cations and inorganic layers, and also help assemble the components into a three-dimensional network.