Propane-1,3-diaminium tetrachloridozincate(II) 18-crown-6 clathrate.

The reaction of propane-1,3-diamine hydrochloride, 18-crown-6 and zinc(II) chloride in methanol solution yields the title complex salt [systematic name: propane-1,3-diaminium tetrachloridozincate(II)-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclooctadecane (1/1)], (C(3)H(12)N(2))[ZnCl(4)] x C(12)H(24)O(6), with an unusual supramolecular structure. The diprotonated propane-1,3-diaminium cation forms an unexpected 1:1 supramolecular rotator-stator complex with the crown ether, viz. [C(3)H(12)N(2)(18-crown-6)](2+), in which one of the -NH(3)(+) substituents nests in the crown and interacts through N-H...O hydrogen bonding. The other -NH(3)(+) group interacts with the [ZnCl(4)](2-) anion via N-H...Cl hydrogen bonding, forming cation-crown-anion ribbons parallel to [010].