3,3′-Dimethyl-1,1′-[2,2′-bipyridine-5,5′-diylbis(methylene)]diimidazol-3-ium bis(hexafluorophosphate)

The title compound, C20H22N62+center dot 2PF(6)(-), was prepared by the reaction of 5,5'-bis(bromomethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine with 1-methylimidazole. The main molecule lies on an inversion center located at the mid-point of the C-C bond joining the two pyridine rings. The asymmetric unit therefore contains one half-molecule and one hexafluorophosphate anion. The dihedral angle between the pyridine and imidazole rings is 76.93 (7)degrees. In the crystal, weak intermolecular C-H center dot center dot center dot F hydrogen bonds contribute to the stabilization of the packing.