Both unique Cd atoms in the tetra-gonal polymorph of bis-(1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium) tetra-bromido-cadmate, (C6H11N2)2[CdBr4], occupy special positions (site symmetry -4). The crystal structure consists of isolated tetra-hedral [CdBr4](2-) anions which are surrounded by 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium cations. The methyl and ethyl side chains of the cations show positional disorder in a 0.590 (11):0.410 (11) ratio. In the crystal, (C6H11N2)(+) cations display three weak C-H⋯Br hydrogen-bond inter-actions through the imidazolium ring H atoms with the Br(-) ligands of the surrounding complex anions. The alkyl groups of the side chains are not involved in hydrogen bonding.
Keywords: 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium bromide; crystal structure; ionothermal synthesis; supramolecular organization; tetrabromidocadmate.