2-(Chloromethyl)benzimidazolium chloride

The structure of title compound, C8H8ClN2 +·Cl−, comprises discrete ions which are interconnected by N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, leading to a neutral one-dimensional network in [001]. This hydrogen bonding appears to complement π–π stacking interactions [centroid–centroid distances 3.768 (2) and 3.551 (2) Å] and helps to stabilize the structure further.