catena-Poly[tris-(μ(2)-1H-benzimidazole-5-carboxyl-ato)europium(III)]

In the title one-dimensional coordination polymer, [Eu(C(8)H(5)N(2)O(2))(3)](n), the Eu(III) ion is eight-coordinated by the carboxyl-ate O atoms of six ligands in a distorted monocapped penta-gonal-bipyramidal geometry. The ligands link Eu(III) ions, forming helical chains parallel to the c axis, with Eu⋯Eu separations of 4.0678 (11) Å. The chains are further inter-connected by N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds into a three-dimensional supra-molecular network. The crystal studied was a racemic twin, as suggested by the Flack parameter of 0.367 (14).