(1H-Benzimidazole-5-carb­oxy­lic acid-κN (3))(1H-benzimidazole-6-carb­oxy­lic acid-κN (3))silver(I) perchlorate

The reaction of 1H-benzimidazole-5-carb­oxy­lic acid with silver nitrate in the presence of perchloric acid under hydro­thermal conditions yielded the title complex, [Ag(C(8)H(6)N(2)O(2))(2)]ClO(4), which comprises of an [Ag(C(8)H(6)N(2)O(2))(2)] mononuclear cation and a perchlorate anion. The Ag(I) ion is coordinated by two N atoms from two different neutral 1H-benzimidazole-5-carb­oxy­lic acid ligands with an N—Ag—N bond angle of 163.21 (14)°, forming an [Ag(C(8)H(6)N(2)O(2))(2)] mononuclear cation. Although both ligands in the mononuclear cation are monodentate with one N atom coordinated to the metal ion, they are different: one is N(3) coordinated to the Ag (I) ion and the N(1) atom protonated, the other with the N(1) coordinated to the Ag (I) ion and the N(3) atom protonated (and thus formally a 1H-benzimidazole-6-carb­oxy­lic acid rather than a 1H-benzimidazole-5-carb­oxy­lic acid ligand). The planes of the two planar ligands are roughly perpendicular, making a dihedral angle of 84.97 (2)°. The packing of the ions is stablized by extensive O—H⋯O, N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, and by remote Ag⋯O inter­actions [3.002 (3), 3.581 (5) and 3.674 (5) Å].