Core protonation of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin with tetrafluoroboric acid: unusual water-mediated hydrogen bonding of H4tpp2+ to the counterion

N-Protonation of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (H2tpp) with HBF4 yields the compound [H4tpp](BF4)2·2H2O·CHCl3, which exhibits intricate water-mediated hydrogen bonds between [H4tpp]2+ and the counterions. The structure forms a network in which the porphyrin molecule is hydrogen bonded to two water molecules and each water molecule is hydrogen bonded to two tetrafluoroborate ions.