4,4′-Di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridinium trifluoromethanesulfonate was synthesized by stirring 4,4′-Di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine with scandium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate in acetonitrile, followed by precipitation with diethyl ether. The structure of the new compound was characterized by FT-IR, 1H, 13C{1H} and 19F{1H} NMR spectroscopy and CHN elemental analysis. This is a safe and simple method to obtain mono-protonated bipyridinium trifluoromethanesulfonate without the direct use of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid.