(Aceto-nitrile-κN)aqua-[N,N'-bis-(pyridin-2-yl-methyl)ethane-1,2-di-amine-κ4N,N',N'',N''']zinc(II) perchlorate.

The structure of the title compound, [Zn(C14H18N4)(C2H3N)(H2O)](ClO4)2, contains a six-coordinate cation consisting of the tetra-dentate bis-picen ligand, coordinated water, and coordinated aceto-nitrile, with the latter two ligands adopting a cis configuration. There are two formula units in the asymmetric unit. Both cations show almost identical structural features with the bis-picen ligand adopting the more common cis-β conformation. One of the four perchlorate anions is disordered over two positions, with occupancies of 0.9090 (15) and 0.0910 (15). There is extensive inter-ionic hydrogen bonding between the perchlorate anions and O-H and N-H groups in the cations, including a bifurcated hydrogen bond between an N-H group and two O atoms of one perchlorate anion. As a result of this extended hydrogen-bond network, the ions are linked into a complex three-dimensional array.