organic compounds
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The title compound, C12H20N42+·2BF4−, was prepared by the anion exchange of a dibromide ionic liquid with sodium tetrafluoroborate. The asymmetric unit contains one half of the imidazolium cation, which lies about an inversion centre at the mid-point of the central C—C bond of the linking butyl chain. The two planar imidazole rings (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0013 Å) are strictly parallel and separated by 2.625 (7) Å [vertical distance between the centroids of two imidazole rings], giving the molecule a stepped appearance. In the crystal structure, intermolecular C—HF hydrogen bonds link the cations and anions, generating a three-dimensional network.