Bis[2-(3-pyridinio)benzimidazolium] di-mu-chloro-bis[trichlorocadmium(II)].

The title compound, (C12H11N3)2[Cd2Cl8], consists of two discrete 2-(3-pyridinio)benzimidazolium cations and one [Cd2Cl8]4- anion. The dimeric [Cd2Cl8]4- anion lies about an inversion centre and consists of two distorted [CdCl5] trigonal bipyramids which share a common edge. The two Cd atoms are each coordinated by two mu-Cl atoms and three terminal Cl atoms, with a Cd...Cd separation of 3.9853 (6) A. The packing displays two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded sheets, which are further linked by C-H...Cl contacts and pi-pi stacking interactions to yield a three-dimensional network.