The solid state structure of [Ru(Phtpy)
2][PF
6]
2 · 4MeCN has been determined (Phtpy = 4
x2032;-phenyl-2,2
x2032;:6
x2032;,2
x2033;-terpyridine); [Ru(Phtpy)
2]
2+ cations pack into sheets by virtue of {M(tpy)
2}
2 embraces, and the MeCN solvent molecules are involved in N
![cdots, three dots, centered cdots, three dots, centered](http://www.sciencedirect.com/scidirimg/entities/22ef.gif)
H
x2013;C interactions which prevent the efficient packing of adjacent sheets. Comparisons with related structures lead to some generalizations about packing motifs in salts containing [M(Phtpy)
2]
2+ or [M(pytpy)
2]
2+ cations (pytpy = 4
x2032;-pyridyl-2,2
x2032;:6
x2032;,2
x2033;-terpyridine).