Bis[2,6-bis(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine]ruthenium(II) bis(hexafluoridophosphate) diethyl ether trisolvate

The title compound, [Ru(C 19 H 13 N 5 ) 2 ](PF 6 ) 2 ·3C 4 H 10 O, was obtained from the reaction of Ru(bimpy)Cl 3 [bimpy is 2,6-bis(1 H -benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine] and bimpy in refluxing ethanol followed by recrystallization from diethyl ether/acetonitrile. At 125 K the complex has orthorhombic ( Pca 2 1 ) symmetry. It is remarkable that the structure is almost centrosymmetric. However, refinement in space group Pbcn leads to disorder and definitely worse results. It is of interest with respect to potential catalytic reduction of CO 2 . The structure displays N—H...O, N—H...F hydrogen bonding and significant π–π stacking and C—H...π stacking interactions.