2-Hydroxymethyl-1-pentylbenzimidazole serves as simple model for the a
ctive site of hydrolytic metalloenzymes. The crystal structure shows t
hat this compound crystallizes with 1,4-dioxane molecules: two benzimi
dazole units for one solvent molecule, C13H18N2O.0.5C(4)H(8)O(2). The
benzimidazole rings are hydrogen bonded (O-H ... N) into dimers.