Host-guest-like thiamine-anion complexation in thiaminium bis(tetrafluoroborate)

In the title compound, 3-[(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidin-1-io)methyl]-5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methylthiazolium(2+) bis(tetrafluoroborate), C12H18N4OS2+. 2BF(4)(-), the divalent thiamine cation (in the F conformation) is associated with BF4- anions via two characteristic bridging interactions between the thiazolium and pyrimidinium rings, i.e. C-H . . . BF4- . . . pyrimidinium and N-H . . . BF4- . . . thiazolium interactions. Thiamine molecules are linked by N-H . . .O hydrogen bonds to form a helical chain structure.