Electrostatic repulsion between the cations of (1-methyl-1H-imidazole-κN)(2,2':6',2''-terpyridine-κN,N',N'')platinum(II) perchlorate nitro-methane monosolvate prevents Pt⋯Pt inter-actions.

The reaction between [Pt(terpy)Cl]·2H(2)O (terpy = 2',2'':6',2''-terpyridine) and 1-methyl-imidazole (MIm) in the presence of two equivalents of AgClO(4) in nitro-methane yields the title compound, [Pt(C(15)H(11)N(3))(C(4)H(6)N(2))](ClO(4))(2)·CH(3)NO(2). The dicationic complexes are arranged in a staggered configuration. The torsion angle subtended by the 1-methyl-imidazole ring relative to the terpyridine ring is 114.9 (5)°. Inter-molecular C-H⋯O inter-actions between the perchlorate anions and the H atoms of the terpy ligand are observed. Consideration of related phenyl-bipyridyl complexes of platinum(II), which are monocationic, leads to the conclusion that the electrostatic repulsion between the dicationic chelates prevents the formation of Pt⋯Pt inter-actions. These inter-actions are a common feature associated with the monocationic species.