Organic ammonium carboxylates as supramolecular building blocks: The role of ionic hydrogen bonding

Ion pairs and higher order aggregates of organic ammonium carboxylates have been recognized as important tools in supramolecular chemistry. The structures of these species are attributed to isotropic electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonds between oppositely charged ions. This account describes the role of hydrogen bonding in the crystal structures of various organic ammonium carboxylates. The utility of these salts in the design of supramolecular assemblies such as organogels and higher order clusters in non-polar solutions is also demonstrated.