3,30-[1,2-Phenylenebis(methylene)] bis(1-octylbenzimidazolium) dibromide monohydrate

In the title hydrated molecular salt, C38H52N42+.2Br(-).H2O, the central benzene ring of the dication makes dihedral angles of 89.47 (13) and 72.69 (12)degrees with the pendant benzimidazol-3-ium rings. The conformations of the octyl side chains are completely different. In the crystal, the components are linked by O-H ... Br, C-H ... Br and C-H ... O hydrogen bonds into a two-dimensional network lying parallel to the ac plane. Aromatic pi-pi stacking interactions are also observed [ shortest centroid-to-centroid separation = 3.5047 (16) angstrom].