4-[2-(4-cyanophenyl)ethenyl]-N-methylpyridinium tetraphenylborate

In the title compound, C(15)H(13)N(2)(+).C(24)H(20)B(-), the pyridyl ring of the cation makes a dihedral angle of 1.6 degrees with the benzene ring. Each is rotated in the same direction with respect to the central -C-CH=CH-C- linkage, by 3.8 and 5.3 degrees, respectively. The anions have a slightly distorted tetrahedral geometry. Molecular packing analysis was carried out using the packing energy portioning scheme in the program OPEC. Around each anion in the crystal structure there are eight anions, which interact with the central anion through C-H...pi interactions. The cations are hydrogen bonded in a head-to-tail fashion, forming chains along [101].