N,N′‐Dimethylpyrazinediium bis(tetrafluoroborate) and N,N′‐diethylpyrazinediium bis(tetrafluoroborate): new examples of anion–π triads

Crystallization of N,N′‐dimethylpyrazinediium bis(tetrafluoroborate), C₆H₁₀N₂²⁺·2BF₄⁻, (I), and N,N′‐diethylpyrazinediium bis(tetrafluoroborate), C₈H₁₄N₂²⁺·2BF₄⁻, (II), from dried acetonitrile under argon protection has permitted their single‐crystal studies. In both crystal structures, the pyrazinediium dications are located about an inversion center (located at the ring center) and each pyrazinediium aromatic ring is π‐bonded to two centrosymmetrically related BF₄⁻ anions. Strong anion–π interactions, as well as weak C—H...F hydrogen bonds, between BF₄⁻ and pyrazinediium ions are present in both salts.