2,2'-[2,3,5,6-Tetra-methyl-p-phenyl-ene-bis(methyl-enethio)]bis-(pyridine N-oxide)

Mol-ecules of the title compound, C(22)H(24)N(2)O(2)S(2), lie across centres of inversion. The two thio-pyridine N-oxide groups adopt a stepped trans configuration with respect to the benzene ring, by virtue of the symmetry. The oxopyridinium ring forms a dihedral angle of 79.9 (2)° with the benzene ring. The crystal structure is stabilized by a strong π-π inter-action between the pyridinium rings of adjacent mol-ecules [ring centroid-centroid distance = 3.464 (3) Å].