Orthorhombic polymorph of 4-[(1H-benzimidazol-1-yl)methyl]benzoic acid

We reported recently the first polymorph of the title compound [Kuai & Cheng (2011a). Acta Cryst., E67, o2787]. A second polymorph of the title compound, C(15)H(12)N(2)O(2), was unexpectedly obtained by the hydrothermal reaction of the title compound with manganese chloride in the presence of potassium hydroxide at 413 K. The benzimidazole ring system is almost planar, with a maximum deviation from the mean plane of 0.015 (2) angstrom. The benzimidazole and benzene rings are inclined at a dihedral angle of 79.00 (1)degrees. In the crystal, adjacent molecules are connected through O-H center dot center dot center dot N hydrogen bonds into a one-dimensional chain along the [001] direction.