2-Methyl-5-nitro-1H-benzimidazol-6-amine dihydrate

The title benzimidazole molecule, C8H8N4O2·2H2O, is planar with a maximum deviation of 0.079 (2) (for one of the O atoms in the nitro group). It crystallized as a dihydrate and intermolecular O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds link the uncoordinated water molecules, and the nitro and amine groups, respectively. In the crystal, N—H...O, O—H...N, O—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules to form a three-dimensional network. A π–π contact between the benzene rings, [centroid–centroid distance = 3.588 (1) ] may further stabilize the crystal structure.