Sulfonated 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane

In the title compound, 4-[3-(3-sulfonatopyridin-1-ium-4-yl)propyl]pyridin-1-ium-3-sulfonate, C13H14N2O6S2, the molecule is zwitterionic, with the sulfonic acid proton transfered to the basic pyridine N atom. Also, the structure adopts a butterfly-like conformation with the sulfonate groups on opposite sides of the `wings'. The dihedral angle between the two pyridinium rings is 83.56 (7)°, and this results in the molecule having a chiral conformation and packing. There is strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the pyridinium H and sulfonate O atoms of adjoining molecules. In addition, there are weaker intermolecular C—H...O interactions.