Bis[4-(dimethylamino)pyridine-kappaN1]silver(I) nitrate dihydrate.

The title compound, [Ag(C(7)H(10)N(2))(2)]NO(3).2H(2)O or [Ag(dmap)(2)]NO(3).2H(2)O, where dmap is 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine, has a distorted linear coordination geometry around the Ag(I) ion. A novel pattern of water-nitrate hydrogen-bonded anionic strands is formed in the c direction, with the cationic [Ag(dmap)(2)](+) monomers trapped between them. The Ag(I) ion and the nitrate group atoms, as well as the water molecules (including the H atoms), are on a crystallographic mirror plane (Wyckoff position 4a). The influence of bulky methyl substituents in position 4 of the 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine ligand on packing is discussed. The absolute structure was determined unequivocally.