X-ray structure and conformational study of tris(2-(dimethylamino)phenyl)methanol salt derivatives: Roles of anions and hydrogen bond

•The tertiary alcohol forms stable salts with the common acids in water.•Three hydrogen bonds share a trifurcated oxygen anion center in crystal.•Anions influence the H-bond structure and conformation of the cations.•Cations with anions from strong acid-salts have a fixed C3 symmetry.•Cations with anions from weak acid-salts have a time-averaged C3 symmetry.

The tris(2-(dimethylamino)phenyl)methanol, a tertiary alcohol, can form stable salts with acids in water. X-ray crystallographic analysis reveals that the organic cation of the tetrachlorocobaltate salt, [(2-(Me)2N+H–C6H4)3C–O−]2+, was constructed by three zwitterionic hydrogen bonds which share a trifurcated oxygen anion center. The influences of the anions on the hydrogen-bond structure of the organic cation were studied by using 1H NMR spectroscopy, as well as Merck Molecular Force Field (MMFF94) calculation and analysis.

Graphical abstractThe influence of anions to the hydrogen bond structure and the molecular conformation of the tris(2-(dimethylamino)phenyl)methanol salts were studied by using X-ray single crystal structure, 1H NMR spectroscopy and MMFF94 calculation.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide