Crystal structure of 4,4′-(diazenediyl)dipyridinium nitrate perchlorate

The title compound, C10H10N42+·NO3−·ClO4−, was obtained unexpectedly by the reaction of Co(ClO4)2·6H2O and cytidine-5′-monophosphate with 4,4′-azopyridine in an aqueous solution of nitric acid. The molecular structure comprises two planar 4,4′-diazenediyldipyridinium dications lying on inversion centres and perchlorate and nitrate anions in general positions. In the crystal, N—H...O hydrogen bonds between dications and anions lead to the formation of [232] chains.