(E)-3,3′-(Diazene-1,2-di­yl)bis­(1-methyl-1,4,5,6-tetra­hydro­pyrrolo­[3,4-c]pyrazol-5-ium) dinitrate dihydrate

The title compound, C₁₂H₁₈N₈²⁺·2NO₃⁻·2H₂O, was synthesized unexpectedly from 3-amino-1-methyl-1,4,5,6-tetra­hydro­pyrrolo­[3,4-c]pyrazol-5-ium chloride and cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate. The cation has a crystallographically imposed centre of symmetry. In the crystal, the ions and water mol­ecules are linked via O—H...N, N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds into a three-dimensional network.