3,3'-Dimethyl-1,1'-methylenediimidazolium tetrachlorocobaltate(II).

The title compound, (C9H14N4)[CoCl4], a methylene-bridged bis-imidazolium salt containing a tetrachlorocobaltate anion, is one of the first examples where an alkyl-bridged bis-imidazolium compound could be structurally characterized. Short C-H...Cl contacts between the imidazolium C-H bonds and the Cl atoms of the counter-anion build up a three-dimensional network and indicate that the C-H bonds are strongly polarized.